With the aim of protecting citizens’ privacy from the reach of social media and new technologies, legislators from the PT, Morena, and PVEM parties presented a bill to amend the State Civil Code, elevating “self-image” to the status of a legally protected right.
The proposal, championed by legislators Hugo Alday Nieto, María José Osorio Rosas, and Ricardo Velazco Rodríguez, seeks to regulate the capture, reproduction, and dissemination of photographs or videos, establishing civil liabilities and penalties for unauthorized use.
In their statement of purpose, the proponents warn that technological advancements allow anyone with a mobile device to capture and share the private lives of others.
“These images, circulating without control, can be manipulated, used commercially, or even subjected to harassment and defamation, seriously affecting the dignity and reputation of individuals,” the legislators stated.
The reform proposes adding a Chapter IV Bis to the Civil Code, highlighting the following articles:
Art. 551 Bis: Defines an image as any identifiable physical or digital representation on any medium.
Art. 551 Ter: Establishes the universal right of every person to authorize the use of their voice, face, and body.
Art. 551 Quater: Warns that the use of an image without express consent will be considered an offense subject to compensation for damages.
Public Officials and Exceptions
One of the points that has generated the most attention is Article 551 Quinquies, which specifies that the image of a public servant may only be used without authorization when justified by the exercise of their duties or the public interest, and provided that it was captured in a public space.
To guarantee a balance with freedom of expression, the initiative includes exceptions where permission will not be required:
Use of caricatures or parodies according to social custom.
Graphic information from public events where the person appears incidentally (in the background or not as the main focus).
Images of public figures at events of general interest.
Toward Modern Legislation
With this measure, Quintana Roo seeks to join states like Jalisco, Nuevo León, and the State of Mexico, which already have similar regulatory frameworks. The proposal places special emphasis on the protection of children and adolescents, strengthening judicial oversight in the digital sphere.
The initiative, originally submitted in December 2025, was referred to committees on March 2, 2026, for technical analysis. If approved, it will take effect the day after its publication in the Official Gazette of the State.
Source: caribempresarial
