MEXICO.- A virtual protest has taken over social media this Monday in Mexico against the threat posed by a new telecommunications reform bill that many have warned will crush internet neutrality in Mexico and enable internet censorship by the government. Although not yet passed, citizens have now started to take to social media.

This Monday and Tuesday, 21st and 22nd of April, hashtag #EPNvsInternet is on the path to becoming the top trending topic, even worldwide, a demonstration of just how angry Mexicans are with the reform, along with #ContraElSilencioMX (against the silence). Some critical parts of the reform are:

Telecom concessionaires (providers) and, in some cases, authorities will be forced to provide the real-time location of any type of communication device if requested by public safety agencies or officials that are delegated with authority to do so.[/p] Block, inhibit, or temporarily shut down telecom signals during events and in locations critical to public safety and national security concerns at the request of delegated authorities. Internet providers will have the obligation to maintain a detailed list of consumer preferences and habits, such shall be provided to the authorities whenever and for whatever reason requested. The Secretary of the Interior can censor television and internet content, and suspend whatever it deems unfit. Internet providers will be able to give preferential bandwidth to different sites, and thus function in the best interest of certain companies or interests.

These protests are not limited to the virtual world. For Tuesday afternoon, several public protests have been organized in different cities, including Guadalajara and Mexico City. Also, on April 26 another march is being organized with plans on creating a human chain from Televisas Headquarters in Chapultepec to Los Pinos (the official residence of the President of Mexico).

During these events, protest messages and other public contributions will be added to the website nomaspoderalpoder.org (no more power to the power), and there has been news that protests will take place outside both chambers of Congress. All of this is done in an attempt to help the publics voice be heard.

This public outcry includes a call for support from the international community, as explained in this video:

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[p]brenda.colon@sandiegored.com

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