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2mo ago

Mexico’s Supreme Court Strikes Down Puebla’s ‘Cyber-Harassment’ Crime

The ruling signals that states must define online offenses precisely to avoid chilling speech.

Aunque el objetivo era regular conductas en redes sociales, la Corte dejó claro que ninguna norma puede aplicarse si no define con precisión qué se castiga, ya que esto pone en riesgo derechos fundamentales. | Archivo GH
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Overview

  • The Supreme Court, which voted Tuesday to void Article 480 of Puebla’s penal code, adopted Minister Giovanni Figueroa’s opinion and made the decision retroactive to July 11, 2025.
  • Justices said the law’s verbs like “monitor,” “harass,” “intimidate” and “offend” were too vague to show people what was illegal and risked arbitrary enforcement.
  • The court found the provision violated legal clarity and the principle that criminal law should be a last resort, and it warned of a chilling effect on online speech.
  • The case reached the bench through a constitutional challenge filed by the national human rights commission, while a similar petition from the PAN was dismissed for lack of standing.
  • Ministers noted that other, more precise crimes in Puebla already cover digital harms, and the ruling could unwind cases filed under Article 480 as local officials say they will comply.