Mexico restores access to main government site over TorCEFR B2
3 Mar 2026
Adapted from Jacobo Nájera, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Jorge Aguilar, Unsplash
Reports and data show that access to Mexico's federal government websites over the Tor network was blocked across at least the last two presidential terms and into the first year of the current administration. A study published on October 9, 2023 found 21 government agencies blocking Tor access. The government under an earlier administration created a Tor-accessible whistleblower mailbox and an Official Gazette notice said protecting confidentiality was an obligation and described supervisory duties to guarantee anonymity.
The Enrique Pena Nieto administration did not acknowledge the blockage. Under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador the government acknowledged it maintained the block and defended the move on security grounds, saying that measures to filter malicious or automated traffic can unintentionally affect Tor users because Tor traffic is hard to distinguish from harmful traffic.
The Tor Project argued for technical workarounds. Pavel Zoneff, a Tor spokesman, said it is possible to reduce risks for websites while still allowing Tor users access and to defend against threats such as DoS attacks and bots without blocking large groups of legitimate users.
On May 6, 2025 the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo said it had no policy position or documented justification to block www.gob.mx, according to Gabriela Ignacio Vazquez of the Digital Transformation Agency. Routine monitoring on July 5 confirmed that the block on www.gob.mx was lifted, allowing access to the federal government's main information site from Tor. The change is a partial reversal: some services remain inaccessible.
- datos.gob.mx remains blocked.
- The earlier Tor-accessible whistleblower mailbox was disabled and replaced with the SIDEC platform, which does not permit Tor access.
Difficult words
- block — to prevent or stop access to a resourceblocked, blocking
- whistleblower — a person who reports illegal or harmful activities
- confidentiality — the state of keeping information secret and private
- anonymity — the condition of not being identified or named
- malicious — intentionally harmful or meant to cause damage
- automated — controlled by machines or software without human action
- monitor — to regularly check or observe something over timemonitoring
- reversal — a change that undoes a previous decision or situation
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What might be the consequences for whistleblowers when a government blocks Tor access to its services? Give reasons from the article.
- How could a government balance protecting against malicious or automated traffic and allowing anonymous access? Suggest practical measures based on the text.
- Do you think lifting access to the main government site but keeping some services blocked is sufficient? Explain your opinion with examples from the article.
Related articles
Wearable 10‑Minute Antibody Sensors from University of Pittsburgh
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh made a wearable biosensor that detects antibodies in interstitial fluid in 10 minutes without a blood draw. The tiny carbon nanotube sensors are highly sensitive and the work appears in Analytical Chemistry.
