Senate warns of risk of drug trafficking incursion in controversial Telecom Law

In a context where national security is intertwined with technology, the Senate of the Republic raised the alarm about a worrying threat: the potential infiltration of organized crime into the telecommunications sector. During a historic panel discussion that brought together 25 experts, the legal loopholes in the current Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law , enacted in 2014, were discussed. These loopholes could be exploited by criminal groups to obtain concessions or establish clandestine networks.

The event, titled "Analysis of Telecommunications and Broadcasting Policies," was more than an academic forum. It became a space for denunciation and proposals, where senators, activists, and specialists agreed that the current legal framework lacks effective mechanisms to prevent organized crime from participating, directly or indirectly, in the sector.

Javier Corral, secretary of the Radio, Television, and Cinematography Commission, emphasized that the focus should be on "ideas and arguments, not phobias or exaggerations," in order to build solid legislation, free of loopholes and with effective legal tools.

One of the most debated topics was the requirement for companies to store geolocation data for long periods. For Óscar Mondragón, of the Free Internet for All group, this provision represents a latent risk in a country where institutional corruption is a constant: "Sensitive data could fall into the hands of kidnappers or drug traffickers."

Furthermore, the law allows the Public Prosecutor's Office to access the real-time location of mobile devices without a court order. Activists like Jesús Robles Maloof warned that this exposes journalists, human rights defenders, and citizens in violent areas to potential retaliation or persecution.

The Senate's fears are not unfounded. There are already documented cases of criminal groups establishing their own networks. In Michoacán, "Los Viagras" operated a clandestine internet service, forcing residents to subscribe to their service under threat.

Companies like Megacable have reported being victims of extortion, power outages, and sabotage by cartels, who even demand "right of way" to allow the operation of antennas or cable laying.

Former IFT President Commissioner Adriana Lombardi Inzunza proposed establishing a clause that would prevent the spectrum from remaining unused and also ensure that concessions do not end up in the hands of drug-related groups. According to the expert, the current agency lacks the legal tools to reject suspicious applications.

"Today, we cannot legally prevent someone with criminal ties from applying for a concession. That must change," he stated.

The NGO Article 19 spoke out, pointing out that the current law jeopardizes fundamental rights such as privacy and freedom of expression. It warned that it allows for the censorship of online content without judicial intervention, which could be used by criminal groups or even corrupt authorities to silence inconvenient voices.

The discussion made it clear that Mexico needs urgent and profound telecommunications reform. Robust filters must be established for the allocation of concessions, citizens' personal data must be protected, and guarantees must be made that neither organized crime nor abusive authorities can misuse the technology.

Robust legislation will not only protect telecommunications, but will also safeguard one of the pillars of democracy: the right to free and secure information.

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