Llave MX Seeks to Digitalize 80% of Government Procedures

On November 14, 2024, the government of Mexico City presented the Llave MX project, a platform aimed at digitalizing government procedures nationwide. This initiative seeks to digitalize 80% of government procedures and reduce overall processes by 50% during Claudia Sheinbaum's six-year term, emphasizing streamlined bureaucracy and improved public service efficiency.

"Government procedures were reduced from 2,100 to 515, with 197 being fully digitalized, while requirements went from an average of 14 to just seven. Every month, capital citizens carry out more than one million procedures, 75% of which are completely digital," said José Antonio Merino, Head of the Secretariat of Digital Transformation in 2023. His statement reflects the importance of projects that facilitate digital transformation in public administration. 

Llave MX forms part of broader efforts to modernize public administration through digitalization, a trend that has gained traction due to demands for greater efficiency and transparency in government services. According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), this shift has been further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which heightened the need for online solutions that enable secure, remote interactions with government entities. Moreover, ECLAC observes that digital solutions are increasingly becoming essential components of governmental operations.

The Llave MX platform, which integrates authentication based on a citizen’s Unique Population Registry Code (CURP), cell phone number, and password, aims to reduce physical procedures and provide a more accessible, secure option for citizens. Through the platform, citizens can perform administrative tasks online, eliminating the need to visit government offices. This will not only alleviate bureaucratic burdens but also increase public management efficiency.

In addition to simplifying procedures, Llave MX prioritizes the security of users’ personal information. According to the Digital Agency for Public Innovation (ADIP), documents will be securely stored and accessible to citizens without the risk of data breaches. This measure is particularly significant given ongoing concerns about data privacy, as addressed by previous initiatives such as the Federal Government's Privacy and Personal Data Protection Policy.

"The goal is to simplify life for Mexicans, as well as to avoid any form of corruption that may exist at a window," said Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum during her morning conference. "From Llave MX, to all the developments of the new dependency of the Digital Transformation Agency, will benefit Mexicans in Mexico and abroad."

In 2025, Llave MX is expected to expand its services, integrating additional services such as digital medical records, a single investment window with the Tax Administration Service (SAT) and the Ministry of Economy, and the digitalization of customs systems. Additional services, such as a one-stop shop for consular water services and public registries, aim to further facilitate administrative procedures for citizens.

Despite its promise, the initiative has raised concerns among data protection experts. Francia Pietrasanta, legal officer at R3D, told Expansión that "transparency in the treatment of personal data is crucial to avoid possible risks of exclusion or security breaches". Experts generally agree that although Llave MX presents significant advantages in terms of efficiency, safeguarding user data remain a central issue that will require constant vigilance.

The federal government also plans to create a National Center for Public Technology to support state-level digitization of key services, such as public land and civil registries. This center will play a pivotal role in ensuring that digital transformation extends beyond Mexico City to other regions, fostering nationwide technological advancement.

"We are going to work together with municipalities, states, so that these procedures can also be digitalized and advance in the technological development of our country," Sheinbaum concluded.