**Official Announcement: Abolishment of INAI, Introduction of “Transparency for the People”**
On March 20, 2025, the federal executive leader officially published a decree in the evening edition of the Federal Official Gazette, marking the creation of the General Law on Transparency and Access to Public Information. This new law repeals the General Law on Transparency effective since 2016, the Federal Transparency and Access to Public Information Law, and data protection laws handling personal information by public and private entities.
Effective March 21, 2025, this new regulation begins a 90-day period for the executive branch to issue the internal regulations for “Transparency for the People,” a department under the Federal Secretariat for Anti-Corruption and Good Governance. This body will take over many responsibilities from the National Institute of Transparency, Access to Information, and Personal Data Protection (INAI).
The transitional articles of this new law dictate that all resources and personnel from INAI will be transferred to the Secretariat of Anti-Corruption and Good Governance. “Transparency for the People” will also manage data protection belonging to federal executive authorities and private parties. The decree specifies that INAI’s financial resources will now fall under the Public Treasury rules, and INAI must maintain and transfer essential information and reports to integrate into the public accounts during the first quarter.
On the legislative front, a significant vote in the Chamber of Deputies approved the reform that led to the establishment of “Transparency for the People,” replacing INAI and coming under the aegis of the Secretariat of Anti-Corruption and Good Governance. Unlike INAI, this new entity won’t have commissioners and will have a single head appointed by the President, lacking a collegiate decision-making process.
The reform necessitates that each entity subject to this law forms a Transparency Committee to ensure rights to access information and data protection. However, security and justice institutions stand exempt from this rule.
A subset of information, notably facing security, national defense, and certain strategic projects, may be marked as confidential for up to five years, extendable as necessary. Despite objections and several reservations presented, this reform was eventually accepted handily in votes during separate legislative sessions.
Initially constituted in 2014, INAI came into existence to replace the Institute for Public Information Access (IFAI), serving autonomously to handle grievances and manage information requests. Under the new structure, these oversight functions will shift mainly to executive control, sparking debates about efficiency and transparency under a singular governing structure.
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**Mexico’s Transparency Watchdog Gets a Makeover**
Amid notable legislative changes in Mexico, a recent overhaul replaces the National Institute of Transparency (INAI) with a new body dubbed “Transparency for the People.” The newly created department is expected to function under more centralized executive authority, answering directly to the Secretariat of Anti-Corruption and Good Governance.
By abolishing INAI, the move streamlines executive oversight on public information access while centralizing data protection responsibilities, which now sit squarely under governmental watch. With its formation, “Transparency for the People” sparks a mix of anticipation and concern among citizens and political watchers, eyeing potential shifts in bureaucratic transparency and public access to essential data.
**In Related Developments:**
**International Backdrop on Data Protection Policies**
Globally, nations increasingly prioritize data protection and public information access, confronting challenges of transparency and digital security. For example, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets a benchmark for robust frameworks in data security across diverse sectors. As Mexico looks to reform its transparency systems, adjustments closely align with international jurisdictional precedents focusing on personal data responsibilities and privacy rights enhancement.
The evolving legislative landscape emphasizes the role of transparent governance, suggesting engaging public discourse in shaping policies reflecting contemporary digital realities.
Stay tuned for updates and analyses on further repercussions and potential impacts on international perceptions and Mexico’s governance model.