On Saturday, the agency responsible for protecting personal data in Mexico demanded an explanation after the personal information of more than 300 journalists accredited to the presidency was leaked.
This must [expliquer] said Julieta del Río, official at the National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information and Protection of Personal Data (INAI).
Otherwise, the National Patent Institute will consider opening an automatic investigation, the official added in an interview with El Heraldo Radio.
These leaks were revealed on Friday by cybersecurity expert Victor Ruiz, raising concerns among press freedom advocates.
The journalists in question are accredited to the presidency and attend President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's daily press conference, Mr. Ruiz, founder of cybersecurity firm Silicon, said on X.
He explained that in some files, addresses, photos, and full names of individuals appear.
The Media Alliance, which brings together several Mexican media outlets, called for an investigation “to determine whether this was a hack or a malicious leak.”
When contacted by Agence France-Presse, the presidency did not respond immediately.
The head of state, who often attacks journalists and media outlets critical of his government, also said he would like the National Election Authority, an independent public body he believes to be “useless,” to disappear.
