Collaboration Needed to Boost Mexico's Digitization: Google

Royal Hansen, VP of Privacy, Safety and Security Engineering at Google, stated that Mexico has a unique opportunity to advance in digitization, but this requires effective collaboration between the government and the technology sector. In meetings with Claudia Sheinbaum's transition team, Hansen highlighted the importance of strengthening cybersecurity and regulating new technologies to protect user data in an increasingly digital environment.

Mexico offers a favorable outlook for technological development, especially through the nearshoring phenomenon, with multiple companies announcing either their intention, arrival or expansion within the Mexican market, as is the case of Oracle, Microsoft, Google, Amazon Web Services, and Micron, among others.

According to Hansen, this bilateral effort can facilitate digitization not only in industrial sectors but also in the daily lives of citizens. By optimizing logistics and production processes, Mexico can strengthen its position as a key manufacturing center for companies aiming to lower costs and reduce delivery times.

In this context, Hansen has noted that during meetings with Claudia Sheinbaum's transition team, discussions focused on the need for a clear strategy for digital transformation under the leadership of the country’s next president. With a background in data and climate science, Sheinbaum, along with José Antonio Peña Merino, the incoming Director of the Digital Transformation Agency, has positioned herself to prioritize these efforts. Hansen expressed optimism about their ability to lead this transformation in the next six-year term.

“I think she (Claudia Sheinbaum) can be a good ambassador to drive the development of technology that industries are going to require on their way through automation[--which] incidentally implies greater security for companies as citizens,” Hansen told Expansión. 

According to Google, approximately 70% of companies in Mexico’s manufacturing sector are ready to integrate 5G technology into their operations, marking a significant advance in process automation. This outlook is supported by the Cradlepoint State of Connectivity 2024 study, which highlights that factory mechanization can generate substantial savings in time and human resources, while also facilitating more efficient management of large data volumes.

As more users migrate their activities to digital platforms, the need to strengthen the technological skills of the population arises. At the same time, this surge in digitization is amplifying cyber vulnerabilities, underscoring the importance of continuously updating security measures.

“When digitization increases, you also start to need more security, and security needs to be updated because when it is not done, it makes it easier for attackers to breach systems. That is why it is important for us to work with Public Security Secretariats as well as with all the government representatives in charge of the Digital Agenda to boost digitalization in a secure way,” Hansen told Expansión. 

In Mexico, institutions such as the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT), the Federal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE) and the National Institute of Transparency, Access to Information and Protection of Personal Data (INAI) have been responsible for safeguarding user rights and data protection. However, as Expansión pointed out, the viability of these entities is at risk given the proposal to extinguish autonomous bodies, which could pose significant challenges for technological progress and data protection.

 “While the demise of these regulators could have implications that are difficult to foresee, the need for collaboration between the private sector and government is more crucial than ever to benefit users,” Hansen concluded.