Mexico is moving forward with a nationwide proposal to regulate artificial intelligence, a measure that would establish new federal oversight, create dedicated institutions, and introduce criminal penalties for certain forms of AI misuse. The bill is now headed toward Senate debate after months of drafting and consultation.
The proposal, which was developed through the Senate’s specialized committee on artificial intelligence, brings together input from lawmakers across party lines. Officials say the process included 16 months of work and participation from dozens of experts across academia, government, industry, and civil society. Senator Rolando Zapata, who chairs the committee, said the initiative followed extensive consultation. “This project is the result of 16 months of work and dialogue sessions that involved 72 specialists from different sectors, including academia, the private sector, representatives of the public sector and human rights organizations,” he said.
Zapata also addressed concerns over free expression, stating that the legislation is not intended to limit political speech or criticism. “This project in no way limits or restricts freedom of expression or political debate. It does not censor opinions or criticism, nor does it establish penalties for expressing oneself,” Zapata wrote on his official X account.
The bill targets several categories of AI-generated harm, including non-consensual sexual deepfakes, election-related manipulation, and autonomous AI systems capable of lethal action without human oversight. It also prohibits the creation or distribution of explicit synthetic media involving minors under any circumstances, reports Mexico News Daily.
Among its provisions, the draft law bans “the manipulation of images, audio, or video for the purpose of humiliating, harassing, extorting, or perpetrating violence against a woman; the deliberate automation of hate campaigns, defamation, smear campaigns, or gender-based attacks; as well as the design or use of artificial intelligence systems primarily intended to facilitate cyberbullying, harassment, or digital persecution.”
To support enforcement and development, the legislation also proposes a national AI strategy, a federal development fund, and a certification system for approved technologies. Transparency requirements are included to address growing difficulty in identifying AI-generated content online.
The proposal has drawn scrutiny from some experts who warn that certain definitions in the text may be too broad. Víctor Ruiz, CEO of cybersecurity firm SILIKN, said unclear terminology could lead to interpretive challenges. “Without precise definitions, these terms can be open to broad interpretations by the authorities,” he told Expansión magazine.