Mexico’s Tax Authority Could Gain Real-Time Access to Userโค Data on โDigital โPlatforms, Raising Privacy โฃConcerns
Mexico City – โค A newly approvedโค reform to the Federal Tax Code,โ part of the broader Economic Package 2026, is sparking alarm among digital rights organizationsโ who warn it could leadโฃ to widespread violationsโค of digital privacy.The measure, passed last Fridayโ by Morena โฃand its allies, grants the Servicio de Administraciรณn Tributaria (SAT – Mexico’sโค tax authority) โpermanent, online, and real-timeโฃ access to user data held byโค digital service providers.
The reform introduces Article 30-B to the Federal Tax Code, โขcompelling companies offering digital โขservices to allow the SAT access to details needed to verify tax compliance. The approved text states thatโ tax authorities “must โฃallowโฆ permanently, online and real-time access only to the information that allows verifying due compliance with tax obligations.” Agreements will be established with the Digital Transformation Agency and Telecommunications to facilitate this access.
What Information is at Risk?
Specifically, the SAT will be able to consult:
* Transaction records
* Billing history
* Payment โขreceipts
* Subscription or consumption data with tax โrelevance
While the government maintains access will be limited โขto tax-related information, critics argue the language โคof Article 30-B โฃis โขambiguous and susceptible to broad interpretation.
“An act of nuisanceโ without guarantees of due process and โฃan uncontrolledโ interference in the right to privacy,” is โhow Article 19,an institution monitoring freedom of expression,described the measure. The โคgroup contends the reform allows for a “total invasion of citizen information withoutโฃ a concrete โขjustification.”
Potential for Platform blockades
The โคreform also outlines penalties for non-compliance. Digital platforms – including streaming services and dating applications – that refuse to grant the SAT โaccess could face temporary โฃblocking within Mexico.
Theโ obligation forโฃ companies to implement the necessary technical changes will take effect onโข April โ1, 2026.
Next Steps & Broader Implications
The ruling now moves to the Senate for discussion and final approval. If passed, this reformโฃ promises to fundamentally โreshape the relationship โฃbetween the government, digital platforms, and users concerning tax โcontrol and data privacy. โThe debate highlights growing concerns about government surveillance and the protection of personal information inโค the digital age, and raisesโ questions about the scope โฃof tax enforcementโ versus individual rights.