Mexico: 263 Journalists at Risk Following Major Government Data Breach
The Coalition for Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom is deeply concerned for the safety of impacted journalists
Location: Mexico, Mexico City
Date: January 22, 2024
The Coalition for Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom is deeply concerned about the recent government data breach in Mexico, which has exposed the personal information of hundreds of journalists. This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by media professionals in one of the most dangerous countries for journalism in the world. We unequivocally support and stand in solidarity with all the journalists affected by this data breach. The violation of their personal information is a direct attack on their safety and security, and we condemn any form of cyberattack intended to exploit journalists for political advantage or to deter them from their vital role in serving the public by reporting on critical matters. The actions taken by Mexican officials to acknowledge the breach and promise an investigation are essential steps toward addressing this grave breach of privacy and security. We urge the relevant authorities to expedite a thorough and comprehensive investigation into this incident. The safety of the impacted journalists must be guaranteed, and those responsible for this breach must be held accountable for their actions.
The safety of journalists in Mexico, already considered one of the world's most perilous countries for media professionals, is under renewed scrutiny following the theft of personal data from hundreds of journalists. The stolen data, which includes home addresses and copies of passports and voter identification cards, was illegally extracted from government computers on January 22, according to an announcement by Mexican authorities.
While the officials did not publicly identify any of the at least 263 journalists affected by the breach, they revealed that a former government employee's account was used to gain access to the data. The person responsible operated from a Spanish IP address.
The personal data leak has raised fears of potential identity theft and physical security threats, given that home addresses were among the stolen information. Journalists from leading media outlets, including La Jornada, El Universal, Expansion, and Reuters, have been identified as victims.
“What I’m most worried about is possible identity theft and that someone misuses my personal data to commit fraud”
"What I'm most worried about is possible identity theft and that someone misuses my personal data to commit fraud," says Alberto Morales Mendoza, an El Universal reporter.
Another Mexican journalist whose data was leaked has previously been threatened with death. "I obviously feel like the risks I face have grown," they say.
Mexico's National Institute for Transparency, an autonomous government agency, is expected to conduct an investigation into the breach. The affected journalists had provided their personal data to the presidential office as part of a vetting process for attendance at President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's daily morning press briefings.
President Obrador suggested that the unlawful disclosure may have been the work of political opponents seeking to perpetuate the notion that his administration is oppressive and dictatorial. He did not provide any evidence to support this claim.
“I obviously feel like the risks I face have grown”
President Obrador suggested that the unlawful disclosure may have been the work of political opponents seeking to perpetuate the notion that his administration is oppressive and dictatorial. He did not provide any evidence to support this claim.
Following the data leak, images of passports, government-issued identification cards, and work visas began circulating online and appearing in some local media reports.
After some journalists noticed their personal documents in news reports, officials notified them of the "possible violation." The government's digital strategy coordinator noted that an alert for the hack was not triggered within the computer systems since the data was accessed via a password.
The theft of personal data could escalate the risks faced by Mexican journalists, who are already under threat for their investigation of organized crime and corruption in the country.
As CFWIJ has documented, Mexico ranks among the world's most hazardous countries for journalists, trailing only active conflict zones.
According to Article 19, an international organization championing free speech, there have been 163 documented instances of journalists being murdered in Mexico since the year 2000.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom stands unwavering in its support for all journalists impacted by this data breach. We outright condemn any cyberattacks against journalists aimed at misusing their information for political leverage or to intimidate them from their duty of reporting on crucial issues. We call on the responsible authorities to act expeditiously in conducting a comprehensive investigation of this incident, ensuring the affected journalists' safety and holding the culprits accountable for their actions.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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