How America Taught Mexico to Hack the Hell Out of Its Own People — And Why I Can’t Stop Thinking About It
I recently stumbled upon a story that honestly shook me: how the United States helped Mexico build up its surveillance state—then watched as that power was turned inward, used not on terrorists or criminals, but on journalists, activists, and everyday people. And I can’t stop thinking about it.
It started with good intentions (at least that’s what officials claimed). After 9/11, the U.S. wanted to help its allies improve national security. Mexico was offered advanced digital tools—spyware, hacking software, monitoring systems. I used to assume this tech was only for catching bad guys. But what I’ve learned is chilling: those same tools have been used to track political opponents, silence dissent, and invade personal lives in the most terrifying ways.
I kept asking myself, How did we get here? How did American-made surveillance systems end up targeting a teenage activist in Mexico City or a human rights lawyer in Guadalajara? The deeper I looked, the clearer it became: once you teach someone to spy, there’s no guarantee they’ll stick to your rules.
It’s not just about Mexico. It’s about the ripple effect of unchecked power. If the U.S.—a country that prides itself on freedom—outsources surveillance without accountability, what message does that send?
I’m not writing this to fearmonger. I’m writing because I believe conversations like this matter. We should be asking hard questions about who controls technology, how it’s used, and who gets hurt when it’s abused.
Because if we don’t pay attention, it won’t just be Mexico hacking its people—it could be anywhere. Including right here, where you and I live, scroll, and try to feel safe.
