Mexico's president has signed a decree requiring digital platforms to protect minors from adult content and other harmful material. The rules apply to social media and similar services where users create, distribute, or share content, and they give companies 30 calendar days to implement the mandatory measures.
The decree covers explicit sexual material, hate speech, violent extremism, sexual abuse or exploitation, suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, school violence, harassment, cyberbullying, and unlawful conduct. Platforms must identify and remove accounts or content that promote violence, provide age classifications, offer parental supervision and reporting tools, and apply stronger privacy and safety settings for younger users. They must also preserve evidence and alert authorities when life-threatening content is found.
Compliance will be overseen by Mexico's Agency for Digital Transformation and Telecommunications. While the decree is obligatory, it will not be punitive at first; the government said it would seek further legislation if companies do not follow the rules. Mexico is not the first country to introduce such protections, but it is unusual in doing so through a presidential decree rather than new legislation, joining efforts in Australia, Europe, China, and several U.S. states.