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AMPARO EN REVISIÓN 136/2021 telecomunicaciones; de ahí que deba rescatarse lo resuelto por el Tribunal Pleno al conocer de la controversia constitucional 117/2014, en cuya ejecutoria determinó que debe considerarse que el propósito del órgano reformador fue ampliar los derechos humanos a la libertad de expresión y acceso a la información “de una manera cualificada, para lograr una proyección inédita en el sector de las telecomunicaciones y radiodifusión.” […] “Sin embargo, para su protección se estimó insuficiente su mera enunciación y se procedió a establecer una garantía orgánica, por lo que se previó el otorgamiento de obligaciones al Estado para acompañar a los particulares removiendo los obstáculos generados para el libre ejercicio de estas libertades fundamentales.” 174. Es por esta razón que, como se señaló en ese precedente que, “en la Constitución se reconfigura la naturaleza de las telecomunicaciones para redefinirlas como servicios públicos de interés general, lo que permite abrir el espacio para que el Estado cumpla su obligación de garantizar que dichos servicios sean prestados en condiciones de competencia, calidad, pluralidad, cobertura universal, interconexión, convergencia, continuidad, acceso libre y sin injerencias arbitrarias, en beneficio de la autonomía de todas las personas para el libre ejercicio de sus libertades fundamentales.” 175. En suma, el Pleno determinó que la reforma de junio de dos mil trece se basó en la premisa de que “la ampliación de los derechos humanos de las personas a la libre expresión y acceso a la información no podría entenderse sin la ampliación de las facultades regulatorias del Estado en los sectores de telecomunicaciones y radiodifusión, toda vez que se ha estimado insuficiente su protección en el contexto de mercados desregulados dejados a la ley de la oferta y la demanda.” 176. En consecuencua, el artículo 305 de la Ley Federal de Telecomunicaciones y Radiodifusión debe sujetarse a un estandar de escrutinio ordinario porque el precepto se ubica en la primera de las categorías señaladas en el apartado anterior, a saber, en aquel de las disposiciones que se limitan a establecer reglas claras, generales, dirigidas razonablemente a cumplir los fines 51

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Petitioner v. Federal Institute for Telecommunications and Radio Broadcasting

Case Law

Country

Mexico

Country Location

Latitude: 22.450275925480113

Longitude: -99.67675799131331

Country Location (linked Case Law): Mexico

Decision Date: Oct 5, 2022

Case Status: Closed

Case Outcome (Procedural)

Dismissed

Case Outcome (Disposition)

Judgment in Favor of Defendant/ Acquittal

Keywords

Access to Internet
Digital Rights
Internet Service Providers

Judicial Body: Supreme Court (court of final appeal)

Court Name: Supreme Court of Mexico

Case Number: Amparo 136/2021

Case Summary: The Supreme Court of Mexico held that the seizure of devices that provide internet services without a license did not violate the right to freedom of expression and access to information. Article 305 of the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law establishes that persons who provide telecommunications or broadcasting services without a license or authorization shall forfeit in favor of the Nation the property, installations, and equipment used in the commission of such infractions. The petitioner, who had devices that were used to provide internet services without the required license, claimed that the seizure violated the right to freedom of expression and access to information because the internet allowed people to express their ideas and receive information. Additionally, the petitioner referred to Article 7 of the Mexican Constitution, which establishes that “in no case property used for the dissemination of information, opinions, and ideas may be seized as an instrument of crime”. The Federal Institute for Telecommunications and Radio Broadcasting argued that there was no censorship nor restrictions to the dissemination of information, but rather a punitive measure against an illegal provision of services.

The Court held that the prohibition of the confiscation of equipment and properties used for the dissemination of information, opinions, and ideas only applies as a “hard rule” when those goods are substantially linked to the aforementioned purposes (for example, printing instruments of a newspaper or the paper needed to publish magazines or books) or when the seizure is used to censor certain ideas or points of view. Further, the Court held that devices used for the dissemination of information, opinions, and ideas should not be confused with any infrastructure or devices used for the provision of public services, and that, here, the seizure of goods did not seek to penalize a certain point of view, nor prevent a certain group of people from expressing their opinions. Additionally, the Court held that the petitioner did not engage in the provision of these irregular services to disseminate certain information, but rather they intended to make these services available to people to obtain an economic benefit. The Court noted that licenses for the provision of public telecommunications and broadcasting services are instruments that allow States to guarantee that public services, such as the internet, are provided under conditions of competition, quality, plurality, universal coverage, continuity, free access, and without arbitrary interferences for the benefit of all persons. In the Court’s opinion, the legal framework is clear and neutral, and the sanctions established to ensure its effectiveness pursue a legitimate aim and are reasonable and proportionate.

Case Significance: The decision of the Mexican Supreme Court allowed the seizure of devices that were being used to provide internet services without an appropriate license. It also clarified the standards and levels of scrutiny that must be used when analyzing these types of sanctions. Furthermore, the Court dsicussed the importance of the right to freedom of expression and the balance that must be struck when it comes to licenses and authorizations. However, it held that the seizure of goods used in the illegal provision of internet services could not be considered a disproportionate measure even in places where the internet is not easily accessible, as the petitioner argued in this case. Even if the contested measure only affects the instruments that are strictly related to the commission of the infraction, there are less restrictive alternatives to achieve the same goals, especially considering the importance of providing internet in low-access zones. A possible less restrictive alternative instead of the seizure could be, for example, a mere fine and an order or recommendation to request the appropriate license.

The decision establishes a binding or persuasive precedent within its jurisdiction.

Related Caselaw (self)

Related Law

Constitution of Mexico
National Security Law of Mexico

Source URL: Global Freedom of Expression

Collection

Columbia

Date Updated: Jul 19, 2024

Primary Documents

Judgment (Spanish)
Spanish
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CYRILLA: Global Digital Rights Law

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Petitioner v. Federal Institute for Telecommunications and Radio Broadcasting

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