No, Mexican law prohibits impersonation or false identity on social media under the Federal Criminal Code and the General Law on the Protection of Personal Data. The 2026 amendments to the Ley Federal de Protección de Datos Personales strengthen penalties for deceptive online conduct, including fines up to 3% of a company’s annual revenue. Platforms must comply with IFT’s (Federal Telecommunications Institute) 2025 transparency rules, requiring real-name verification for public accounts.
Key Regulations for Using Fake Names on Social Media in Mexico
- Federal Criminal Code (Art. 211 bis): Impersonating another person—including through digital means—constitutes a crime punishable by 2 to 6 years’ imprisonment. Social media accounts using stolen or fabricated identities fall under this provision.
- General Law on the Protection of Personal Data (LGPDP): The 2026 reforms mandate that platforms verify user identities for accounts with public reach. Pseudonyms are permitted only if they do not obscure accountability for illegal content.
- IFT’s 2025 Transparency Guidelines: Social networks must disclose the real identity of users upon judicial request. Fake names used to evade liability violate these rules, risking platform-wide sanctions or shutdowns.
Enforcement targets both users and intermediaries. The Procuraduría Federal del Consumidor (PROFECO) and IFT collaborate to audit compliance, particularly for accounts linked to disinformation or fraud. Foreign platforms operating in Mexico must align with these standards or face access restrictions.