Privacy & Information Security Law Blog

Following its recent enactment of an omnibus data protection law, Mexico has been unanimously elected to lead the Ibero-American Data Protection Network, a consortium of the governments of Spain, Portugal, Andorra and 19 Latin American countries.  The group’s mission is to foster, maintain and strengthen an exchange of information, experience and knowledge among Ibero-American countries through dialogue and collaboration on issues related to personal data protection.  The IFAI announced on September 29, 2010, that Jacqueline Peschard, head of Mexico’s Federal Institute for Access to Information and Data Protection (the “IFAI”), will represent Mexico during its two-year term.

The IFAI has been keeping busy since the enactment of the new law.  It is working with the Secretary of Economy on various matters in the sphere of self-regulation, including a voluntary system under which companies may be certified in compliance with data protection standards.  The IFAI also recently issued a warning to social networks, urging them to take steps to protect minors.  Meanwhile, it is preparing to issue rules to implement certain parts of the new omnibus law.