Mica for cartelinsider.com
On January 29, 2024, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador attributed the leak of personal information and documents of at least 324 journalists – both national and foreign – who had been accredited to attend his morning press conferences, to a planned “hack” by opponents of his government.
The 643 files include photographs, identifications -including the National Electoral Institute (INE) credential-, passports, Federal Tax Registry (RFC), Unique Population Registry Code (CURP), dates of birth, telephone numbers, email addresses and home or work addresses, of journalists who have ever attended presidential morning press conferences.
During his morning press conference -held at the Tesorería Hall of the National Palace-, the politician from Tabasco recognized the violation of digital security, but accused that the alleged “hacking” was done to make it seem like the journalists were being persecuted during the electoral period.
“Yes, it was a hack, it was a hack, it was a hack, it was a hack […] We do need to investigate and find out how it happened, who was the one who hacked; today there will be a report, it will be delivered, but we do not have any authoritarian intentions,” confirmed the national leader.
“If data is being taken care of, but hacks still occur. Either the security failed or the hackers were very skilled. Remember that our adversaries have a lot of money and can hire criminals with more expertise in this field from all over the world, but that’s just how it is,” emphasized the President of the Republic.
“It is very likely [that it was the opposition]. Claudio X. González [Guajardo] and the entire network of opponents to the transformation. Yes, there will be legal actions, against whoever is responsible,” argued López Obrador, who also insisted that this was “dirty war, it’s espionage. We will make sure an investigation is done […] It’s a hacking, [it’s like] what they did with Guacamaya, where they started releasing the data, it’s the same people. People without moral scruples acting that way. These are media wars.”
“Wait, as they wait, everything becomes clear here, then, the data is collected, a big scandal,” criticized the federal executive leader, questioned by a reporter, who persisted with the question: “Is there no risk, Mr. President?”
“No, because we are going, because we have to take care of all citizens and journalists, but why do they do it? Why is it hacking? To try to plant the idea that we pursue, censor, are dictators, all of us, [Joaquín] López-Dóriga [Velandia], Brozo [Víctor Alberto Trujillo Matamoros], [Carlos] Loret de Mola [Álvarez] and Claudio X. González [Guajardo], and the entire conservative bloc,” he accused.
INAI investigates leak of personal data from more than 300 journalists who have attended AMLO’s “Morning Briefing”.
The National Institute of Transparency, Access to Information and Protection of Personal Data (INAI) reported on January 26, 2024 that it was investigating the leakage of personal data and documents, from at least 324 journalists -both national and foreign- who had been accredited to attend President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s morning press conferences.
The 643 files include photographs, identifications – including the National Electoral Institute (INE) credential -, passports, Federal Taxpayers Registry (RFC), Unique Population Registry Code (CURP), dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses and home or work addresses of journalists who have ever attended the morning presidential press conferences.
“At INAI, we are conducting a technical analysis of the public information available regarding the potential leakage of personal data of journalists who coincidentally cover daily news. As guardians of #PersonalData protection, any transgression of principles, duties and rights established in the General Law on the subject will be investigated and resolved in accordance with our powers and under the protection of the law,” the autonomous constitutional body stated on its social media account X.”
On its part, the non-governmental organization Article 19 stated that it verified, through various sources, the dissemination of a database containing personal information of journalists, “on an online forum”, allegedly collected by the System of Press Accreditation of the Presidency, from those who attended the presidential morning press conferences.
“The data includes names, contacts, identifications, photographs, and other attachments. With Mexico being one of the deadliest countries against the press, with 163 murdered journalists and 32 missing, the leak not only violates their dignity and privacy, but also their physical safety. It is of particular concern that the leaked information belongs to those who attend the ‘Mañaneras,’ a space where journalists have warned about their persecution and threats,” stated the NGO, also in X.”
“In this context, the safeguarding of personal data is essentially a matter of protecting one’s physical integrity. So far, it is unknown how long personal data and identity documents were available online, as well as the number of affected journalists. ARTICLE 19 urges journalists who have attended these morning press conferences in recent years to activate security protocols and take necessary precautions,” the non-governmental organization added.”
Article 19 insisted that the Mexican Government should clarify which measures were taken to prevent the violation of personal data collected, specifically those outlined in their management system. Additionally, they should specify their preventive actions to avoid potential damage caused by leaked information, as well as their compensatory and restorative measures in response to the incident.
“Above all, promptly inform the individuals whose personal data was leaked about corrective actions that will be implemented immediately and definitively. It is unjustifiable that the basic principles and duties outlined in the General Law on the Protection of Personal Data held by Obligated Entities have been violated regarding the safeguarding of information. The leak causes a potential impact on the lives and integrity of all journalist victims due to the improper protection of personal data by the Federal Executive”, concluded the NGO.”
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Mica
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