Women Press Freedom denounces the doxxing, a punitive measure against critical reporting posing a significant safety threat to the journalist

Location: Mexico, Mexico City
Date: February 22, 2024

Women Press Freedom strongly condemns Mexico's President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, for justifying his decision to disclose the phone number of Natalie Kittroef, the New York Times Bureau Chief for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, by asserting that the legal prohibition on officials sharing personal information does not apply to him. This act of doxxing is a punitive measure against critical reporting. It poses a potential threat to the safety of the journalist, particularly in Mexico, the deadliest country for journalists. We are deeply disturbed by the President's reckless behavior and his failure to acknowledge the consequences of his actions. We call upon President Obrador to issue a public apology and to implement protective measures for journalists rather than exposing them to danger.

LATEST VIOLATIONS

On February 22, Natalie Kittroef, the New York Times Bureau Chief for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, sent a letter to Mexico's President López Obrador requesting his comments on a U.S. investigation into allegations that people close to him received funds from drug traffickers both before and after his 2018 election. In the letter, Kittroef provided her contact information, including her phone number, for further communication. During his daily press briefing, the President displayed and read aloud the letter, inadvertently revealing Kittroef's phone number to the public.

The Mexican law on the Protection of Personal Data mandates that "the government will guarantee individuals' privacy" and penalizes officials and others for misusing or revealing personal data. However, President López Obrador maintained that "the political and moral authority of the president of Mexico is above that law," and that "no law can be above the sublime principle of liberty." He also accused the U.S. media of acting with "arrogance."

In a statement posted on X, The New York Times condemned the president's actions, labeling it as a "troubling and unacceptable tactic from a world leader at a time when threats against journalists are on the rise.”

Revealing a reporter's phone number in Mexico can present substantial dangers, as the majority of threats, harassment, and intimidation faced by reporters in the country, regardless of their origin, are conveyed through messages on messaging apps sent to mobile phones.

Mexico’s National Institute for Transparency and Information Access, the agency responsible for enforcing personal data laws, has announced that it is initiating an investigation into the president’s actions. Adrián Alcalá, the head of the institute, emphasized that "all officials must adhere to the law and the Constitution; absolutely nobody is above them.”

Leopoldo Maldonado, from the press freedom organization Article 19, remarked that the President shared the information with the intention of inhibiting the work of journalists and attempting to impede the publication of matters of public interest related to his administration and those close to him.

This is not the first instance where Obrador has resorted to such actions. In 2022, he publicly disclosed a chart detailing the income of Carlos Loret de Mola, a journalist who had authored articles critical of the president. Obrador often censures the media, claiming they exhibit bias against him and are implicated in a conservative plot aimed at destabilizing his administration.

Women Press Freedom has been actively monitoring and documenting various forms of aggression against women journalists in Mexico. We have recorded numerous instances of violations and are committed to addressing these issues. Year after year, Mexico continues to be recognized as the most dangerous and deadliest country for journalists outside of war zones. The Committee to Protect Journalists documented at least 55 journalists killed in Mexico since Obrador took office in 2018. 

Women Press Freedom strongly condemns Mexico's President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, for justifying his decision to disclose the phone number of Natalie Kittroef, putting her in potential danger. We vehemently denounce this act of doxxing, which is a punitive measure against critical reporting and poses a potential threat to the safety of the journalist. This is particularly concerning in Mexico, known as the deadliest country for journalists. It is crucial for the press to be able to report on matters of importance to the public freely and securely, without the fear of being doxxed or attacked. We endorse the decision of Mexico’s National Institute for Transparency and Information Access to launch an investigation into the president's actions. We urge President Obrador to publicly apologize and take steps to safeguard journalists instead of placing them in harm's way. 

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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