Mexico, Tech Platforms Partner to Face Digital Violence

The federal government of Mexico has reached a voluntary agreement with major technology platforms to strengthen mechanisms to prevent and respond to violence against women in digital environments. Claudia Sheinbaum, President, Mexico, announced the initiative during a press briefing.

The agreement, signed with Meta, TikTok and Google, establishes a framework for collaboration between the private sector and the government to address cases of online abuse. Under the initiative, the Ministry of Women will maintain direct communication channels with the companies to activate response protocols and facilitate the removal of harmful content.

Sheinbaum described the arrangement as an initial step toward improving protections for women in digital spaces, which have become increasingly central to daily life and professional interaction. Through these protocols, platforms will be able to identify and remove posts, images or other material linked to violence against women more quickly.

“It is a first agreement. It is voluntary, but it allows the Ministry of Women to remain in direct contact with the platforms,” says Shainbaum. “The objective is to ensure that platforms, through these protocols, can remove images or publications linked to violence against women.”

Citlalli Hernández, Minister of Women, Mexico, presented the collaboration. She explained that the initiative stems from commitments announced on Nov. 25, 2025, during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. At that time, the federal government pledged to explore joint actions with technology companies to confront online harassment and abuse.

Hernández says the agreement focuses on strengthening response mechanisms for victims while improving cooperation between digital platforms and authorities responsible for investigating cybercrime.

Measures included in the framework involve the faster removal of abusive or exploitative content — especially in cases involving minors — as well as tools that allow victims to block aggressors or limit comments on their posts.

The reporting system will also be linked to Mexico’s national assistance line, Línea 079, where victims can receive guidance and emotional support. Authorities expect this integration to facilitate access to institutional support while ensuring that cases reported online can be directed to the appropriate government agencies.

The agreement also aims to improve collaboration between technology companies, prosecutors' offices, and cyber police units to accelerate investigations and remove intimate content shared without consent.

Hernández says this cooperation is essential to address a growing category of digital crimes that often involve identity theft, harassment, or the dissemination of private material.

According to official data presented by the Ministry of Women, digital platforms play a significant role in Mexican society. About 83.7%of the population, equivalent to 90.3 million people, use the internet. Of that total, approximately 47.6 million users are women.

Incidents of online violence have become increasingly visible within this digital environment. Authorities estimate that 18 million people in Mexico have experienced some form of digital violence, including harassment, threats, or the non-consensual distribution of personal content. Of those cases, about 10 million involve women.

Data also shows that younger women are disproportionately affected. Approximately 57.7% of female victims are under the age of 29. While both men and women report online harassment, the forms of aggression differ.

Men tend to report insults or offensive comments. Conversely, women more frequently face unsolicited sexual proposals, the receipt of sexual content, identity impersonation, and the distribution or sale of intimate images without consent.

Hernández noted that the emotional consequences also vary. Women who experience digital violence report higher levels of fear, stress, frustration and insecurity compared with male victims.

“What begins online does not stay online. Digital abuse spills into real life, spreading fear, silencing voices, and, in the worst cases, leading to physical violence and femicide,” says Sima Bahous, Executive Director, UN Women. 

The UN states that the emergence of AI has significantly exacerbated digital abuse, making it quicker, more targeted, and increasingly difficult to identify. Globally, online violence is a pervasive issue: a survey revealed that 38% of women have personally endured it, and 85% have observed it.

The initiative is expected to evolve through permanent working groups between government agencies and technology companies. These groups will evaluate additional tools and policies to improve prevention and response mechanisms.

Officials says these discussions aim to strengthen the digital ecosystem and ensure that victims can report abuse more easily while authorities respond more rapidly.

One major platform was notably absent from the agreement. Hernández confirmed that X was invited to participate in the discussions but did not attend any of the meetings leading to the initiative. She added that the platform currently lacks a formal office in Mexico.

Despite its absence, Hernández said the government intends to continue addressing digital harassment campaigns that often target women in public life, including political figures and journalists.

As online platforms increasingly influence social participation, employment opportunities and public debate, officials say strengthening mechanisms to address harassment and abuse has become an important component of broader labor and social protections in the digital economy.