Mexican state uses AI law to arrest online critics

Authorities in the Mexican say of San Luis genus potosí of late arrested 2 people linked to a Facebook sir frederick handley page critical of the local government under a new artificial intelligence law that human rights and press freedom groups warn is being used to suppress political dissent.

San Luis Potosí's Attorney General's Office released a statement May 22 saying two women — Eréndira Reyes and her daughter, Alejandra Hermosillo — had been arrested on a judge's warrant over suspected "simulated content with the appearance of authenticity" that allegedly harmed "the image, honour, public reputation and moral integrity" of an unidentified complainant.

Reyes founded San Wicho Times, a Facebook page that publishes news reports and commentary critical of Gov. Ricardo Gallardo Cordona and his allies. The page often posts AI-manipulated images and collages, sometimes mixing real photos with comic book-style graphics.

The case is among the first tests of changes San Luis Potosí, a small state in central Mexico, made to its criminal code in November to target the use of artificial intelligence in digital content. The law includes minimum sentences on conviction ranging from three to six years.

Critics say the law is too broad and can be weaponized by the state government to suppress dissent. 

"It can easily be used as a tool by repressive state governments, municipal governments and powerful politicians," said Jan-Albert Hootsen, Mexico representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). 

"It means that artificial intelligence can now be added to sort of the big tool-set that is used to limit freedom of expression and increase censorship in the country." 

The state Attorney General's Office did not respond to a request for comment.

Six human rights and press freedom groups — including the CPJ and Reporters Without Borders— issued a statement saying San Luis Potosí's AI laws were used to arrest the two women and a third individual, Christian Herrera, linked to a separate Facebook page called, Código Rojo. 

"Use of broad and technically imprecise criminal laws increases the risk of persecution against journalists, political activists, communicators, administrators of informative pages and persons who use social media," said the statement. 

"The acts that are described here represent the arbitrary use of these laws." 

Luis González Lozano, a San Luis Potosí lawyer and human rights activist, said the law passed through the state legislature in about 40 days and received very little debate or input. The law was adopted on Nov. 14, 2025, and published by the government on Nov. 18.

González Lozano, who is part of the human rights organization Change of Path, said the group sent a report on the law to state lawmakers warning that it was overly broad and threatened free expression. Their analysis concluded that the law could criminalize everything from AI-created memes to journalistic projects that use AI images to protect confidential sources.

The law has a clause exempting works of journalism, academia, art, satire, parody or political criticism. González Lozano said it's a mere fig leaf because the law includes broadly worded provisions around "provoking social alarm" or "altering social peace" which could easily be used to override the exemption clause. 

"This government hasn't been characterized for its transparency, for taking pleasure in being accountable, or accepting commentary from its critics or detractors," said González Lozano.

"I believe it's a crime created to give excessive protection to public officials." 

His organization filed a complaint against the law with Mexico's National Human Rights Commission. 

The commission then filed a challenge against the law on constitutional grounds with Mexico's Supreme Court, which could take about a year to issue a decision. 

"The language I've seen here is just not that clear. And without additional clarity, this is the sort of legislation that risks doing damage to the cause of AI regulation. Which would be a shame."

Panetta said several jurisdictions have passed laws to regulate AI, including Europe, which imposes obligations on platforms, and states like California, New York and Florida, which target specific practices.

"They tend to single out a specific wrong, and tend to specify the conditions," he said.

The U.S. Administration of Donald Trump passed a law targeting AI deepfakes, and two people were recently charged in May over AI deepfake porn, said Panetta, who also writes on Substack. 

San Luis Potosí Gov. Ricardo Gallardo Cordona's administration has previously used investigations to put pressure on journalists and online critics, said Carlos Domínguez, director of online news agency Nacion14, which reports on platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. 

The document also named Reyes and Hermosillo but is unrelated to their current accusations. 

Domínguez and the others were named as subjects of an investigation into a video depicting alleged members of an organized crime group making statements about the governor. 

"This video was circulating that was presumably made with artificial intelligence, though some say that it's not," said Domínguez. 

"This upset the governor because this video, without saying too much, can damage his image and the image of his government."

Domínguez, who has published reports critical of San Luis Potosí's current administration, said he believes the governor used the pretext of the video to target certain critical journalists. 

"I never shared the video that refers to the governor in this investigative file," he said. 

Domínguez said he suspects there is a connection between the new AI law and the recent arrests with the governor's plans to have his wife, federal Senator Ruth González Silva, run for the governorship in next year's state elections.

"They are starting to quiet voices that are critical of the government before next year's electoral process," said Domínguez. 

"This is the usual conduct of the actual repressive governor of San Luis Potosí."

Reporter

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