Overview
- The most recent development is the broadcasters’ chamber (CIRT) issuing a communiqué that accepted negotiated changes to the CRT’s draft lineamientos, a move President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly praised on Tuesday.
- The CRT’s proposal would require each radio and TV concessionaire to publish a code of ethics, appoint a defensor de audiencias (audience ombudsperson) to handle complaints, and register those instruments with the regulator.
- Under the draft, unresolved audience complaints could be escalated to the CRT, which the rules would allow to supervise ombudspersons, require corrections to codes and impose administrative fines tied to broadcasters’ revenues.
- Opinion writers and analysts say those supervisory and sanctioning powers create a risk of discretionary enforcement that could chill editorial freedom by making outlets wary of complaints or regulatory monitoring.
- The public consultation remains open through August 21 and will determine the final wording and enforcement procedures, with debate focused on legal clarity, judicial review and the rules’ impact on media independence ahead of future elections.