Mexico has ordered social networks, video game services, app stores and other online platforms to verify the ages of their users, under a presidential decree on safe digital environments for children and adolescents. President Claudia Sheinbaum signed the decree on October 14, and it was published the same day in the Diario Oficial de la Federación, the government’s official gazette.
Platforms must use reliable mechanisms to confirm users’ ages. A user simply declaring their age will not be sufficient.
The decree requires platforms to prevent minors from accessing content that promotes cyberbullying, sexual abuse and exploitation, hate speech and violent extremism, illegal conduct, pornography, suicide, self-harm and eating disorders. Companies must publish their criteria for identifying and removing prohibited accounts and posts, provide tools for reporting them, and allow parents and guardians to supervise minors’ accounts.
New accounts must have the strictest available privacy and safety settings enabled by default. Platforms must also periodically assess the risks created by their features and recommendation systems, and adopt measures to prevent or reduce those risks.
Companies must designate a specialized contact, available 24 hours a day throughout the year, to respond to prosecutors and courts. When they remove an account or content, they must keep the digital evidence for at least 90 business days so it can be provided to authorities on request. They must also immediately alert the relevant national agencies about accounts or posts that threaten the life, dignity, safety, integrity or privacy of minors.
The decree took effect on publication. Platforms have up to 30 calendar days to document and report the measures they have implemented. Sheinbaum said the companies had asked for an adaptation period, and that her government could pursue legislation with sanctions if it finds the rules are not being followed.
“If we see that it is not being complied with, then we would move to a law that would also involve sanctions for the platforms,” Sheinbaum said.
Mexico’s Digital Transformation Agency will oversee compliance, with the Office of the Legal Counsel to the Presidency following implementation and possible legal changes. Legal counsel Luisa María Alcalde said the measures are intended to reduce minors’ exposure to content that can put their physical or emotional integrity at risk.
The Ministry of Health will run mental health programs and offer psychological guidance through its Line of Life service, while the Ministry of Public Education will promote responsible platform use and help schools detect risk situations.
Sources: UnoTV, El Imparcial
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
