Mexico City’s ‘digital law’ expected to attract more investment

Mexico City’s new law for digital operation and innovation, which came into effect at the beginning of this year, is expected to ensure better control of public spending, provide more transparency on public contracts, reduce corruption and offer better opportunities for potential investors, according to local law firm Basham, Ringe & Correa.

The law also creates the Agency for Public Digital Innovation of Mexico City, and which aims to design and coordinate public policy for the city in the field of data management and technological and connectivity control. 



The agency will create and implement technological solutions and establish laboratories for innovation, and work with third parties for the purchase, operation, sale, exchange or rental of telecommunication network capacity and communications infrastructure, with the goal of providing network access to all public buildings and facilities of the government of Mexico City as well as in schools, libraries, public transport and other public spaces.

The law also seeks regulatory simplifications to make Mexico City more competitive, including the establishment of digital identification means and platforms for public services. 



The law aims to increase transparency on public spending and government contracts, through the creation of a publicly accessible monitoring system, and the implementation of better tools for detecting potential conflicts of interest in government contract proceedings, according to the law firm.

The law also provides new rules for the management and use of data obtained and generated by the local government of Mexico City.