Mexico seeks constitutional digital identity rights

Federal lawmaker Karina Margarita del Río Zenteno, of Morena, introduced a proposal to amend Articles 4, 6, and 16 of Mexico’s Constitution and recognize every person’s right to a secure, interoperable, and free digital identity. The measure was referred to the Constitutional Points Committee and, according to the coverage reviewed, had not yet been approved and remained under study.

What does the constitutional reform seek?

The proposal says the state would be responsible for protecting critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, and the full safeguarding of digital identity, along with personal and biometric data. It also seeks to elevate to constitutional status a right that would apply to everyone, with a scope that is not limited to access, but also includes security and system interoperability.

What legal changes does it foresee?

The proposal would require Congress to pass a General Law on Digital Identity and Citizenship and align the legal framework on personal data held by public entities, cybersecurity, and electronic signatures. For that purpose, it sets a maximum deadline of 360 calendar days from the constitutional reform’s entry into force.

How would the system be implemented?

The federal executive branch, working with state governments, would be responsible for implementing a National Digital Identity System within a maximum of two years after the corresponding general law takes effect. The initiative, according to reporting by Talla Política and Pulso SLP, is still under legislative review.