Morena Denies Censorship in Audience Rights Guidelines, Defends Public's Right to Information

Mexico's governing party, Morena, has strongly defended its newly proposed general guidelines for "audience rights," pushing back against claims from opposition leaders and civil society organizations that the initiative could lead to government censorship. The party categorically rejected the "narrative" of censorship in a statement, asserting that the guidelines are designed not to silence voices but to safeguard the public's fundamental right to be informed.

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During the neoliberal period not only were public companies privatized, but the public conversation itself was privatized. Information stopped being understood as an indispensable good for democracy and began to be used to protect particular interests.

Morena contends that during the "neoliberal period," not only were public companies privatized, but the public discourse itself became privatized. The party argues that information ceased being viewed as essential for democracy and instead began serving particular interests. Morena accused previous administrations of normalizing "propaganda disguised as news," undisclosed paid content, and the dissemination of false, biased, or manipulated information, which it claims led to public apathy and political disengagement.

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You are not regulating what the media can opine or think. Responsibilities are established to protect the people's right to receive information. The authority will not pre-screen broadcasts. The procedure can only be initiated after the broadcast of a content and based on a specific complaint.

The party further stated that the federal government's proposal aims to prevent lies, manipulation, and covert advertising from being presented as journalistic content. Morena criticized the National Action Party (PAN) as "hypocritical" for a 2017 reform that allegedly weakened audience rights, a reform later invalidated by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation. Morena emphasized that the regulations do not restrict media opinions or thoughts but establish responsibilities to protect the public's right to receive information. It clarified that the authority will not pre-screen broadcasts, and any procedure can only be initiated after content dissemination and upon a specific complaint. The party also celebrated the public consultation process, viewing it as evidence against any imposition, as those who seek to censor do not consult the public or open norms to social scrutiny.

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Defending the rights of audiences is defending freedom and recognizing the dignity of the people. Information does not belong to economic powers or media elites; it belongs to the people of Mexico.