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AMPARO EN REVISIÓN 136/2021 11. La parte quejosa señaló como derechos humanos vulnerados en su perjuicio los reconocidos en los artículos 1, 5, 7, 14, 16, 22, 23 y 133 de la Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, así como los diversos 21 y 25 de la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos. 12. En su demanda, la quejosa formuló diversos conceptos de violación, de los cuales sólo se sintetizará el sexto, que es el dedicado a combatir el artículo 305 de la Ley Federal de Telecomunicaciones y Radiodifusión, por ser el único tópico que es materia del presente recurso de revisión: a. Inicia haciendo referencia a la reforma constitucional de junio de dos mil trece en materia de telecomunicaciones, de cuyo recuento destaca que sus objetivos consistieron en garantizar los servicios de telecomunicaciones y radiodifusión bajo condiciones de libre competencia y concurrencia, los derechos de acceso a la información, libertad de expresión y el de los pueblos y comunidades indígenas para adquirir y administrar medios de comunicación. b. A continución, la quejosa destaca el contenido del artículo 305 de la Ley Federal de Telecomunicaciones y Radiodifusión y alega que se opone al artículo 7° constitucional, en la parte que establece la prohibición de que “[e]n ningún caso podrán secuestrarse los bienes utilizados para la difusión de información, opiniones e ideas, como instrumento del delito.” c. Afirma que el precepto constitucional prohibe el secuestro de los bienes, lo cual es vulnerado por el precepto impugnado, ya que la destituye de la titularidad de los bienes que se relacionan con la conducta por la cual fue sancionada, cuestión cuya substanciación no se encuentra reglamentada en algún apartado de la legislación; además señala que la pérdida de los bienes abona a la vulneración al derecho de acceso a la información. d. En su argumentación, señala que el artículo 298 de la Ley Federal de Telecomunicaciones y Radiodifusión establece una serie de supuestos sancionados con multas, consistentes en la utilización del 6

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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: 5 de out. de 2022

Case Status: Closed

Case Outcome (Procedural)

Dismissed

Case Outcome (Disposition)

Judgment in Favor of Defendant

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

Constitución
Ley de Seguridad Nacional

Source Name and URL: Global Freedom of Expression

Collection

Columbia

Date Updated: 19 de jul. de 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

Primary Documents

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