The President of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador has strongly condemned YouTube following its decision to remove a video where he publicly disclosed the private phone number of a New York Times Mexico bureau chief.
López Obrador labeled this action as censorship and expressed concern over what he perceived as an overly intrusive stance.
He shared a photo of the Statue of Liberty alongside his criticism, saying it had become an “empty symbol” suggesting that the iconic symbol no longer embodied the values it once represented.
In response, the tech giant cited policy breaches regarding harassment and cyberbullying as the reason for removing the original content.
However, they later reposted an altered version without the journalist’s sensitive details.
The President’s Actions
During a press conference held on Thursday February 22, 2024, López Obrador revealed the journalist’s contact information shortly after reading a letter from the Times concerning a potential article about alleged ties between his administration and drug cartels.
This incident occurred amidst heightened concerns for journalists’ safety in Mexico, given its status as one of the deadliest nations globally for reporters, particularly those investigating organized crime and corruption.
Following the revelation, the Times issued a statement expressing alarm at the tactic employed by the Mexican president terming his actions, “a troubling and unacceptable tactic from a world leader”.
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President Lopez Obrador is reportedly known for frequently calling out news media houses during his daily press conferences.
“She is slandering us and if she is very worried, then she should change her phone number. Above the personal data protection law, there is the dignity of the president,” Lopez Obrador told reporters after the video was released.
Social media users subsequently posted the private numbers of López Obrador’s son and two presidential candidates, sparking further controversy.
Meanwhile, the Mexican freedom of information body (INAI) has initiated an investigation into López Obrador’s actions.
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The New York Times report, published soon after the president exposed the journalist’s phone number, detailed how the U.S never formally investigated these claims and eventually abandoned the probe.
López Obrador rejected any accusations made against him and accused the journalist involved of being a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) mercenary.
Throughout his tenure, López Obrador has faced ongoing scrutiny related to media safety.
A recent case involving the theft of hundreds of journalists’ personal data added to existing concerns. International organizations like Article 19 have recorded 163 journalist murders in Mexico since the year 2000.
