New Tax Reform Raises Privacy Concerns for Online Users

Starting April 2026, Mexico’s tax authority (SAT) will gain access to users’ online activity across streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO, and Disney Plus, e-commerce sites like Amazon and Mercado Libre, dating apps including Bumble and Tinder, and mobility services such as Uber and Didi. This initiative, referred to as digital Big Brother, will cover streaming consumption, intermediary platforms, online clubs, dating sites, distance learning, and online assessments.

According to the Chamber of Deputies, SAT access will be limited to information necessary to verify compliance with tax obligations. Amendments to Art. 30-B of the Federal Fiscal Code mandate that digital service providers grant authorities permanent, real-time access to relevant systems and records. Platforms failing to comply could face temporary service suspensions, which would also impact users. The reform requires Senate approval but is not expected to undergo significant changes.

The measure has raised privacy concerns. Technology expert Francisco Chávez noted that users will now need to safeguard their data not only from cyber threats but also from government oversight, potentially driving alternative, unregulated channels for digital services.

Digital rights organizations argue that the reform threatens privacy and freedom of expression, permitting continuous, real-time monitoring without judicial oversight. Temporary platform blocks are viewed as extreme and comparable to shutting down traditional media, appropriate only in exceptional cases such as preventing child abuse or incitement to violence.

Fifteen industry associations, including Alai, Amapro, AMVO, and Canieti, criticized the proposal as unprecedented. “The measure is unnecessary, disproportionate, and unconstitutional, as it allows unlimited access to users’ sensitive information, compromising privacy, personal data, and due process,” they stated.