Mexico orders Meta, TikTok and X to shield minors online

Decree sets design rules for platforms

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum signed a presidential decree requiring digital platforms, including TikTok, Meta and X, to protect children from violent, sexual and other harmful content online. The measure says platforms must, by design, restrict exposure to content involving violence, harassment or sexual abuse, and must immediately remove risky material from the profiles of minors.

The decree follows an attack by two 18-year-olds on their former high school in the northern state of Coahuila in early October that killed one and wounded three others. Government adviser Luisa Maria Alcalde said digital platforms will have one month to comply.

Law possible if progress stalls

Sheinbaum said the government would back legislation to penalise companies that fail to implement the decree. "If no progress is made, it would become a law," she told a news conference on Tuesday.

She earlier said the goal is for digital platforms to take responsibility and refrain from disseminating, promoting or spreading content related to criminal acts or violent behaviour. Officials said they had discussed the matter with representatives of social media outlets and streaming platforms such as Meta, Microsoft, Apple, TikTok, Google, X and Huawei.

Part of wider child safety pressure

Mexico’s move follows a broader global push to protect minors online, with governments in Europe and Australia tightening oversight of digital platforms and US states pursuing a range of child safety measures. Brazil has also moved to strengthen protections for children online.

Such measures have raised questions over how to protect minors while safeguarding privacy and freedom of expression. In August, Meta agreed to pay an $18bn settlement in a major US federal case accusing it of endangering children, and was forced to introduce new safety features on platforms including Instagram and Facebook. The lawsuit alleged Meta violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting, retaining and using personal data from children under 13 without proper parental consent.

Sources: Al Jazeera · Reuters