Mexican President López Obrador repeatedly criticizes news outlets and press freedom group over spyware coverage
Mexico City, May 11, 2023—Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador must stop making baseless criticisms of local news outlets and the international free expression organization Article 19, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Since March, López Obrador has sharply criticized Article 19, national investigative magazine Proceso, privately owned online news outlets Animal Político and…
CPJ condemns Mexican military surveillance of activist’s communications with journalists
Mexico City, March 7, 2023 – In response to multiple reports published Tuesday stating that Mexican authorities surveilled human rights activist Raymundo Ramos’ conversations with journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “The revelations that Mexican authorities have continued to spy on activists, including their communications with reporters, is a…
Mexican journalist Alan García’s whereabouts unknown after December abduction
Mexico City, February 6, 2023 – Mexican authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the abduction of two journalists and a media worker in the southern state of Guerrero, and account for the whereabouts of missing journalist Alan García Aguilar, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. A criminal gang in the Guerrero…
Deadly year for journalists as killings rose sharply in 2022
By Jennifer Dunham/CPJ Deputy Editorial Director Published January 24, 2023 Key Takeaways | Methodology | 2022 Killed Data | Interactive Map | Video The year 2022 was deadly for members of the press. At least 67 journalists and media workers were killed during the year–the highest number since 2018 and an almost 50% increase from…
Journalists harassed, robbed by gunmen in Culiacán amid clashes between cartel and Mexican security forces
Mexico City, January 6, 2023 – Mexican authorities must immediately and thoroughly investigate the recent harassment of journalists in the northwestern city of Culiacán, and ensure that members of the press can do their jobs freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Starting on the morning of Thursday, January 5, members of…
News anchor Ciro Gómez Leyva survives shooting attempt in Mexico City
Mexico City, December 16, 2022 – Mexican authorities should immediately investigate the shooting attack on journalist Ciro Gómez Leyva and guarantee his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Late Thursday evening, two unidentified attackers on a motorcycle shot at Gómez Leyva while he was driving near his Mexico City home and then fled…
Killing with impunity: Vast majority of journalists’ murderers go free
By Jennifer Dunham/CPJ Deputy Editorial Director No one has been held to account in nearly 80% of journalist murders during the last 10 years, CPJ’s 2022 Global Impunity Index found, and governments show little interest in tackling the issue. Published November 1, 2022 Statistical table | Methodology | Database: All journalists murdered for their work…
Special report: When spyware turns phones into weapons
How zero-click surveillance threatens reporters, sources, and global press freedom By Fred Guterl Published October 13, 2022 Aida Alami has always been wary of surveillance. As a journalist from Morocco, a state with a track record of intercepting phone calls and messages of political rivals, activists, and journalists, she habitually took precautions to protect her…
For Mexican journalists, President López Obrador’s pledge to curb spyware rings hollow
“Practically nothing.” RíoDoce magazine editor Andrés Villarreal spoke with a sigh and a hint of resignation as he described what came of Mexico’s investigation into the attempted hacking of his cell phone. “The federal authorities never contacted me personally. They told us informally that it wasn’t them, but that’s it.” Over five years have passed…
At least 2 Mexican journalists targeted by Pegasus spyware since López Obrador took office
Mexico City, October 3, 2022 – In response to a joint report published Sunday that found Pegasus spyware infected the devices of two Mexican journalists and a human rights defender between 2019 and 2021, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “This new report definitively shows that Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador…