1

Mexico
Characterized by a subtle flip-flop of action and inaction, similarly to its policies, Mexico
is inconsistent. Even though Mexico is part of various international groups where there are states
with well-developed cybersecurity, their cybersecurity infrastructure is lacking. With uncertain
and complex internet governance, Mexico’s issue is itself. Its known corruption is an issue when
it comes to its cyber-attacks. Its family-oriented culture and the pandemic revealed two things;
individuals will find ways to be in communication, and the lack of cybersecurity infrastructure
exposes just how lacking and weak it is. The silver lining of the inadequacies in the
infrastructure stands in Mexico's willingness to participate in cybersecurity-related talks and
groups. Even if the infrastructure is flawed, it is better than not having one.
Due to the pandemic, Mexico was no stranger to the increase in internet users – both
veteran and new – as individuals wanted to maintain communication. With a 2.5 million user
increase between 2021 and 2022 alone, Mexico had 102.5 million social media users at the
beginning of 2022 (Kemp, 2022). The majority of the platforms used for communication were
social media platforms. Specifically, YouTube, Facebook, and WhatsApp between 91.3-96.3% of
usage by users between the ages of 16-64. The accessibility of these platforms range in devices,
from mobile phones to gaming consoles.While it is not clear whether mobile or broadband are
more popular, the fastest mobile operator is Telcel while Totalplay is the fastest broadband
provider (Mexico’s Mobile and Broadband Internet Speeds, 2021).
To the untrained eye, the domestic landscape of Mexico's cybersecurity policy looks to be
well-developed and polished. But this is an illusion. Mexico has used its closeness to other
countries with well-developed cybersecurity infrastructures, attending talks about cybersecurity,
and being part of some well-known cyber-groups – ICANN, Paris Call, UN GGE, OEWG – to
maintain the illusion. However, it crumbles as one observes the policies in play. A key factor to
understanding the domestic landscape in Mexico is its corruption. Targets of the hacker group
DoppelPaymer – a variant of BitPaymer – were chosen based on the 'likelihood of payment'
(Latest Cyber Attack on Mexican government, 2020). Had Mexico not shown willingness to
crumble under corruption, they would not be seen as an easy target by DoppelPaymer. Despite
the lack of a solid cybersecurity infrastructure, Mexico has a CERT group, along with a national
register for cyber-crimes (RNIC)(Secretaría de Seguridad y protección ciudadana, 2021), though
most policies have not been updated since 2017 (Constitution Politica de los Estados Unidos
Mexicanos, 2017). The inaction since then exhibits that laws regarding data security and privacy
have not been revised to accommodate the increase in internet users from the pandemic.
Despite the constant interactions with multi-stakeholders, Mexico does not entirely share
the same domestic ideologies. It has a more complex model when it comes to its internet
governance. The pandemic revealed inconsistencies that need reforming. Cybersecurity policies
are sparse and semi-nonexistent. It is evident in the thousands of Facebook removal requests
(Freedomhouse, 2021) or when various outlets and journalists experienced content removals and
pressures to remove content leading to the elections in June 2021 (Freedom on the Net, 2021).
There are no blocked websites, apps, or others; however, there is a form of self-censorship.
Nevertheless, the state is an active participant in talks about cybersecurity. Neither
multi-stakeholder behavior nor internet sovereignty behavior; is a hybrid of both, leading to
either side when it wants to.
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References

Alina.bolton. (2020, April 08). Latest Cyber Attack on the Mexican Government. Retrieved from

https://www.globalsign.com/en/blog/closer-look-latest-cyber-attack-mexican-government

Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos - gob.mx. (2017, January 26). Retrieved

May 26, 2022, from

https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/627005/CPEUM_11_03_2021.pdf

Kemp, S. (2022, February 10). Digital 2022: Mexico - DataReportal – Global Digital Insights.

Retrieved from https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2022-mexico?rq=mexico

Mexico's Mobile and Broadband Internet Speeds. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.speedtest.net/global-index/mexico?fixed#market-analysis

Mexico: Freedom in the World 2022 Country Report. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://freedomhouse.org/country/mexico/freedom-world/2022

Mexico: Freedom on the Net 2021 Country Report. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://freedomhouse.org/country/mexico/freedom-net/2021

Secretaría de Seguridad y protección ciudadana. (2021, December 06). Retrieved May 25, 2022,

from https://www.gob.mx/sspc/