The organization defending freedom of expression and information, ARTICLE 19, has called on the Judicial Power of the State of Jalisco to operate according to the highest standards of Freedom of Expression. This is in response to the legal action initiated by Banco Azteca against journalists and social media users. The lawsuit for moral damages is based on a series of posts on the X social network which, according to the bank, triggered a crisis and affected 7% of its deposits, leading to million-dollar liabilities for the named communicators.
In a statement, the Mexico and Central America Office of Article 19 confirmed that legal representatives of Banco Azteca, owned by Ricardo Salinas Pliego, have commenced legal actions against seven journalists and communicators on social media. Among those affected are Jorge Gómez Naredo and Vicente Serrano, who are facing a lawsuit for moral damages stemming from posts made on X in January and February 2024.
According to the bank, these posts caused a crisis that impacted its deposits. This situation has generated concern for ARTICLE 19, as they believe that cases like this have a significant chilling effect due to the economic and psychological impact on those affected in seeking legal representation against one of the largest companies in Mexico.
ARTICLE 19 has pointed out that this type of legal process, along with others highlighted last year, creates a chilling effect that affects not only the defendants but also undermines freedom of expression in general. Furthermore, the organization has denounced the trend in Mexico of using criminal law to silence critical voices from both private and public actors. In this case, they believe it could be a strategic complaint against public participation.
The organization has requested representatives of Grupo Salinas and Banco Azteca to refrain from issuing legal threats against journalists and social media users, and has demanded that the Attorney General of the State of Jalisco halt the investigation process. Additionally, ARTICLE 19 has emphasized the importance of respecting international standards regarding freedom of expression and has expressed its concern about the possible chilling effect this case may have on citizens, sending a message of censorship to those wishing to publish uncomfortable information about companies or economic powers in Mexico.
