Anti-Corruption Unit Refuses to Investigate Federal Government Espionage Elena Toledo - PanAm Post
go to original July 6, 2017

The Committee for Citizen Advocacy had asked the institution to request the information, citing the long list of journalists, political activists and lawyers who were allegedly spied on. (Control Max)

Mexico’s top investigation unit is refusing to look into possible spying conducted by the federal government on journalists and activists.

The initial accusations of espionage arose following a piece in The New York Times alleging that President Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration had conducted espionage against figures posing a threat to its government. Peña Nieto has since denied and even attacked the claims as blatantly false.

But the country’s Anti-Corruption Coordination Unit says it can’t even request information from the federal government to investigate the accusations — specifically a domestic espionage program called Pegasus — because it wouldn’t be a crime that falls under their jurisdiction, “as it is not considered a form of corruption.”

The Committee for Citizen Advocacy had asked the institution to request the information, citing the long list of journalists, political activists and lawyers who were allegedly spied on.

Alfredo Pérez Daza, a member of the Federal Judicial Council, said that illegal intervention in private communications is a crime but not one that is considered corruption. That means it is not under the jurisdiction of the committee to address. Instead, it falls under the jurisdiction of a congressional anti-corruption law office, which is not currently operating because Mexico’s Senate hasn’t named a director.

Read the rest at PanAm Post | Español

Related: Reckless Redux: Senior Mexican Legislators and Politicians Targeted with NSO Spyware (Citizen Lab)

Related: PAN Espionage Victim Gil Zuarth Seeks Justice (The News)

related: Who Is Spying On Mexico's Opposition Leaders, Journalists and Activists? (The Los Angeles Times)

Related: Mexican Spy Scandal Escalates as Study Shows Software Targeted Opposition (The Guardian)

Related: Mexico Government Espionage: The Spys and the Spied On (Mexico Voices)

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!