14 DAY TRIAL // You'd think that Mexican authorities have bigger problems on their hands than people using Twitter to report police checkpoints put up to deter drunk driving. It might also seem like regulating social networks may not be the best way of stopping kidnappings and drug trade. Then again, doing something that could possibly be effective might imply actual work and it certainly doesn't guarantee the level of media coverage a law against Twitter does.
Several enterprising Mexico politicians are reportedly putting together a law designed to regulate social-media use in the country. The draft legislation is intended for those engaging in illegal activities either directly or indirectly on Twitter or other social networks and would enable the authorities to go after them.
One of the things the authorities in Mexico City in particular have against Twitter is the fact that it is being used to avoid Breathalyzer checkpoints set up by the police. The authorities say drunk driving is a big problem in Mexico and initially claimed that reporting such checkpoints on Twitter was a crime and those doing it would be held accountable. As you can imagine, most people and the media didn't take it very well, leading the authorities to back down on their initial claims and are now saying that it isn't a crime per se, but that it's an irresponsible act nonetheless.
There are though even worse fears when it comes to social media. Some politicians believe that the sites should be policed, as they could become a hotbed for illegal activity. The law also seeks to set up a dedicated police force to handle anything having to do with the web. “We have to regulate these websites to make sure there aren’t people breaking the law, making death threats or committing crimes via electronic means,” Nazario Norberto, a federal representative and member of the Revolutionary Democratic Party, said.