'Ley Telecom': 219 Organizations Write Open Letter To Enrique Peña Nieto Demanding He Stop Legislation

Following it's approval in the Mexican Congress, President Enrique Peña Nieto signed the reforms into law, implementing the legislation in Telecommunications Reform (known as # LeyTelecom on social networks). In response, 219 organizations issued a letter demanding that the Federal Institute for Access to Information and Data Protection (IFAI) bring about an action to stop the unconstitutional legislation.

Critics of the law argue that the #LeyTelecom has some severe consequences in terms of privacy for citizens. Articles 189 and 190 require telecommunications providers to protect metadata for 24 months; and empower the authorities to order them - in real time- even without a court order. In the letter, the organizations recognize that the use of metadata is a tool for the fight against organized crime; however, they consider that there are not the necessary conditions to ensure the proper use of this private information.

Critics also argue that the legislation needs to ensure that the laws will not be used in an arbitrary, discriminatory and uncontrolled manner. There are no safeguards such as judicial protection or other measures such as transparency or statistical reporting for the user, even if the Supreme Court of Justice ruled that such data is protected by the sanctity of private communications. Organizations have turned to IFAI because in this instance it is capable of launching an appeal of unconstitutionality.