A doxing scandal ignited by Mexico’s President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, resulted in the subsequent doxing of two presidential candidates. The president openly acknowledged that he was indifferent to potentially violating the law by instigating the controversy.
In the latest development, Lopez Obrador condemned YouTube for removing the video of his morning press briefing where the doxing incident occurred. The politician accused YouTube of censorship and authoritarianism.
As initially reported by Breitbart Texas, the matter began last week when President Lopez Obrador utilized one of his morning press conferences to criticize and intimidate the New York Times for probing into allegations of drug cartel funding in his campaigns.
In the latest development, Lopez Obrador expressed his dissatisfaction with YouTube’s decision to remove the video of his morning news conference where the doxing occurred. The politician accused YouTube of censorship and authoritarianism.
Por censura, YouTube nos bajó el video de la conferencia de prensa del jueves 22 de febrero, pues, según ellos, “infringe las normas de la comunidad“. Es una actitud prepotente y autoritaria. Están en plena decadencia. La estatua de la libertad se ha convertido en un símbolo… pic.twitter.com/Dpbn4tJBfr
— Andrés Manuel (@lopezobrador_) February 26, 2024
In his initial criticism, Lopez Obrador disclosed the personal cell phone number of Natalie Kitroeff from the Times, who had emailed the president’s press office with several questions.
The situation escalated with Mexican government news outlets denouncing Kitroeff and her reporting on AMLO’s campaign.
AMLO’s Govt using public broadcasting to intimidate the NYT’s Mexico bureau chief
— José Díaz Briseño (@diazbriseno) February 23, 2024
Frightening. https://t.co/tFO0gz0BhE
The initial doxing incident drew international criticism from organizations advocating for press freedom, especially given that Mexico is regarded as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists.
#LaVerdadSeProtege
— Amnistía Int. México (@amnistiamexico) February 23, 2024
Revelar datos personales de periodistas e impedirles el acceso a la conferencia de prensa de @lopezobrador son violaciones graves a su derecho a la privacidad, a su seguridad y a la libertad de expresión.
Desde Amnistía Internacional nos solidarizamos con… pic.twitter.com/saAkwtN04V
In response to a question from a Univision reporter regarding the doxing, Lopez Obrador stated that it was a deliberate act. When informed that doxing was illegal in Mexico, the president reiterated his stance, asserting that he was entitled to defend himself against defamatory accusations from critical media outlets.
Shortly thereafter, one of Lopez Obrador’s sons took to social media to disclose that his phone number had been exposed and that he had been subjected to threats.
https://twitter.com/JRLB/status/1761290599431315470?
Presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum, an advocate of Lopez Obrador, also revealed over the weekend that she had been doxed and had been receiving threats on her personal cell phone.
El día de hoy he estado recibiendo llamadas sin parar y mensajes de odio ( como el que muestro) pues alguien publicó mi número de teléfono celular en redes sociales. Es obvio lo que quieren hacer, de nuevo sus ataques son tan burdos como inofensivos. Los números que deberían… pic.twitter.com/nCFXF5f7lc
— Dra. Claudia Sheinbaum (@Claudiashein) February 24, 2024
By Sunday, Xochitl Galvez, the presidential candidate from the opposition party, also reported that her cell phone number had been leaked.
Filtraron mi número de teléfono y no han dejado de llegar mensajes.
— Xóchitl Gálvez Ruiz (@XochitlGalvez) February 25, 2024
Preocúpense, porque esto ya nadie lo para. pic.twitter.com/Rj06ArcTXV
