Eyes Everywhere: Unpacking the Digital Surveillance State in Mexico and the Legal Blind Spots

Authors

Danielle Mena, University of Miami School of Law

Abstract

This article examines the rise of digital surveillance in Mexico and its implications for privacy, human rights, and democratic governance. Despite constitutional and legislative protections guaranteeing personal privacy and freedom of expression, Mexico has developed one of the most extensive surveillance systems in the Americas. Through tools such as Pegasus spyware and the C5 urban surveillance network, government agencies have expanded their monitoring capabilities, often under the guise of national security. However, the misuse of these technologies against journalists, activists, and political dissidents reveals legal and institutional deficiencies. The article analyzes the evolution of Mexico’s digital surveillance infrastructure, identifies the loopholes in existing laws such as the Federal Law on the Protection of Personal Data and the General Law for the Protection of Personal Data in Possession of Obliged Subjects, and evaluates the weakened role of oversight institutions like the INAI. The article argues for comprehensive legal reforms, judicial oversight, and greater transparency.

Recommended Citation

Danielle Mena, Eyes Everywhere: Unpacking the Digital Surveillance State in Mexico and the Legal Blind Spots, 57 U. MIA Inter-Am. L. Rev. 195 ()
Available at: https://repository.law.miami.edu/umialr/vol57/iss1/6