https://www.mexperience.com/all-mexico-cellphone-users-must-register/
TL;DR:
RECLAIM THE NET: Anonymous prepaid SIM cards are dying in Mexico. By July 1, 2026, every active cell phone number in the country must be biometrically linked to a named, government-credentialed individual or face suspension. That’s around 127 million numbers, each one tethered to an identity the Mexican government can look up by name.
The mobile registration law took effect January 9, 2026, covering prepaid and postpaid plans, physical SIMs, and eSIMs alike. Existing subscribers have until June 30 to complete registration. New lines activated after January 9 get 30 days. Miss the window, and the line goes dark.
Last year, I shared in a comment, a 2022 Privacy International article in which they listed all the countries that require ID registration to purchase or use a SIM card. Mexico had not passed any laws yet, but PI mentioned that they were expected to that very same year. Looks like it took them 4 years.
This is terrible for privacy.
In a decade many countries that didn’t have ID registration mandates for SIM card, have passed laws requiring them. I have personally never seen any movements to stop or raise awareness against these mandates.
Why do we let it happen?
I am grateful that PG launched their activism section (thanks @em!), because in many countries and cities there are no privacy movements, or they are too small to make noise. I hope that PG can help make a positive difference in those places, and help activists and whistleblowers get the ball rolling and stir up a storm.
The UK seems to be putting up a fight against digital IDs, but they are also in a unique historical position because they never had a national mandated ID except for a brief period during WWII, after which it was abolished. But countries that are already used to national IDs don’t question the privacy implications and welcome digital IDs. We have to fight back.
I hope the PG community grows bigger and more diverse in terms of locations so we can have more impact.