Veracruz Anti-Meme Law

Overview

Veracruz Anti-Meme Law refers to the criminalization of sharing or creating memes that could be harmful or malicious to another.

Background

On October 2nd, 2018, the LXIV Legislature of the state of Veracruz in Mexico approved the criminal amendment that would make the act of posting memes that that are "'harmful or malicious' images, video and messages deemed to damage a person’s 'reputation or self-esteem'. Doing so could face up to two years in prison and 100 days of community service.^[1][2]

Developments

Criticism

According to the Independent,^[2] "Jose Kirsch Sanchez, the left-wing congressman who proposed the reforms, said they were intended to protect vulnerable internet users from abuse." Others believe that the law was only passed because local politicians are attempting to prevent being mocked on the internet.

However, Governor Miguel Angel Yunes said that he planned to veto the law. He called the law, "unconstitutional for violating the freedom of expression of the people of Veracruz."

Yunes's successor governor-elect Cuitlahuac Garcia also sounded their disapproval of the law. He said, "I find the writing excessive and ambiguous."

Search Interest

External References