Mexico is preparing to introduce legislation that would require social media platforms to remove content that incites violence, following a deadly attack at a secondary school in the northern state of Coahuila.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday that the government expects to present a bill or other legal framework next week requiring digital platforms to take greater responsibility for violent content shared on their services.
The proposed legislation comes a day after an attack at Secondary School No. 13 in Torreon, Coahuila, where a vice principal was killed and four other people were injured.
Two 18-year-olds believed to have carried out the attack were arrested at the scene, according to local authorities.
Speaking during her daily press conference, Sheinbaum said the government wants social media companies to stop disseminating, promoting or spreading content linked to criminal acts and violent behaviour.
She said the proposed measures are intended in part to protect young people from exposure to violent material online.
“The goal is for digital platforms to take on some of the responsibility,” Sheinbaum said, adding that the government would remain open to dialogue with social media companies as it develops the proposed framework.
The Mexican government is expected to determine whether the measure will take the form of a new law, a bill or another legal mechanism, with the proposed rules applying to social media platforms operating in the country.
The move places Mexico among a growing number of countries seeking to impose greater obligations on technology companies over harmful content posted on their platforms.
See also: JD.com Nears EU Nod for $2.5bn Ceconomy Takeover
Australia and the United Kingdom have introduced measures requiring social media platforms to address violent or harmful material, while the European Union has also established rules governing online content and platform responsibilities.
Brazil has taken a stronger position in Latin America. Its Supreme Court ruled in 2025 that social media platforms could be held responsible for failing to remove content that incites violence.
Elsewhere in the region, lawmakers in Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica are considering measures aimed at restricting children’s access to social media and requiring platforms to address harmful material, including violent and sexual content directed at minors.
Mexico’s proposed legislation is therefore expected to add to a broader regional debate over how far governments should go in requiring technology companies to monitor and remove harmful content while balancing the regulation of online platforms with other considerations.
The announcement follows renewed attention to the role of social media in the spread of violent material after Thursday’s school attack in Torreon.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
