AI Policy and Regulations in Mexico (2020-2025): A Comprehensive Overview

Mexico is emerging as a key player in AI governance and innovation across Latin America. Building on its early strategic vision—Mexico was the first Latin American country to publish a national AI strategy in 2018—the country is now modernizing its legal and policy landscape to accommodate rapid technological change. From sweeping judicial reforms to proposed AI-specific legislation and growing investment in infrastructure, Mexico is laying the groundwork for inclusive, ethical, and forward-looking AI development.

Recent Legal Regulations (2020-2025)

Mexico has introduced a series of reforms affecting the broader digital and regulatory environment. Notably, in February 2024, a Federal Law Regulating Artificial Intelligence was proposed in the Senate. This draft legislation is modeled on the EU AI Act and introduces a risk-based classification system for AI technologies—dividing them into unacceptable, high, and low risk. High-risk systems would require prior approval by the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT), human oversight, and thorough assessments before deploymentMexico Country Report.

Other notable legal reforms include the Judicial Reform Act of 2024, which restructured the judiciary, and labor law amendments aimed at protecting gig economy workers—acknowledging the impact of digital platforms on employment models.

Government AI Action Plan

Mexico’s National AI Strategy, launched in 2018, placed the country among the global frontrunners in establishing a national AI vision. Despite this early momentum, implementation has been limited in recent years. To reignite progress, the National Alliance for Artificial Intelligence (ANIA) was formed in 2023. ANIA brings together policymakers, civil society, and academic stakeholders to update the national strategy and align it with global ethics frameworks such as UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AIMexico Country Report.

Policy recommendations call for the creation of a centralized AI agency, stronger inter-institutional coordination, and the integration of cross-cutting values like privacy, transparency, inclusion, and gender equity into AI governance.

Intellectual Property and Data Usage

Mexico’s current IP framework recognizes only human authorship, and AI-generated inventions or content are not eligible for protection without demonstrable human input. The Federal Law on the Protection of Industrial Property clearly defines inventions as “human creations,” reinforcing this position.

In terms of data governance, Mexico enforces a strong privacy regime through the Federal Law on the Protection of Personal Data Held by Private Parties, which applies to AI systems as well. While data scraping is not explicitly regulated, the privacy authority (INAI) has issued guidance for the ethical use of personal data in AI applicationsMexico Country Report.

AI Outputs and IP Protections

A 2023 Supreme Court decision reaffirmed that only human-authored works qualify for copyright protection, leaving AI-generated content in legal limbo. However, a pending case seeks to recognize authorship under a synthetic identity (“ChatGPT”), potentially setting precedent.

The proposed 2024 AI law includes provisions that would require labeling of AI-generated content and obtaining consent from rights holders before using their data to train AI systems. This reflects Mexico’s growing focus on ethical data use and authorship attribution in generative AI contextsMexico Country Report.

AI Investments and Computing Power

Mexico’s AI sector has expanded dramatically—between 2018 and 2024, the number of AI firms grew by 965%, creating more than 11,000 jobs. A 2024 projection estimated at least $240 million in AI-related investment. Moreover, eight out of ten Mexican companies are currently investing in AI, with nearly all planning to increase those allocationsMexico Country Report.

A major boost came from Microsoft, which committed $1.3 billion over three years to AI and cloud infrastructure in Mexico. Local governments such as Mexico City, Jalisco, and Monterrey are already implementing AI in areas like healthcare, transportation, and public communication.

Judicial Decisions on AI

Mexico’s judiciary is only beginning to engage with AI-related issues. While no definitive case law exists yet, ongoing lawsuits—including a class-action case filed by illustrators over AI training data, and the aforementioned authorship claim involving ChatGPT—are expected to shape how courts interpret existing legal principles in the AI era.

Legal scholars emphasize the need for clarity on liability allocation: who is responsible when AI systems cause harm? Mexican law currently applies general tort principles, requiring victims to demonstrate negligence, damage, and causation. Future rulings will be crucial for establishing standards as AI becomes more integrated into everyday lifeMexico Country Report.

Conclusion

Mexico’s AI journey between 2020 and 2025 is defined by legal modernization, strategic recalibration, and dynamic investment. While it has yet to implement a fully realized AI governance framework, the country’s proposed legislation, evolving IP stance, and public-private innovation efforts place it on track to become a regional leader.

As court decisions begin to emerge and policy recommendations are adopted, Mexico’s ability to foster inclusive, ethical, and economically impactful AI development will depend on sustained collaboration between government, industry, and civil society.

Explore the full report for a comprehensive legal analysis, policy roadmap, and sectoral insights: AI Policy and Regulations of Mexico - A Comprehensive Report