UNESCO report calls for regional approach to digital platform regulation

A UNESCO report has called for a more coordinated regional approach to digital platform regulation in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, warning that existing legal frameworks are struggling to keep pace with the risks posed by online platforms.

The report, ‘The Regulation of Digital Platforms in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean: From Diagnosis to a Roadmap for Action‘, examines Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic. It assesses how national legal frameworks align with UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms.

The report finds that all seven countries provide constitutional protections for freedom of expression, privacy and safeguards against prior censorship. However, most still lack comprehensive rules for digital intermediaries and robust personal data protection frameworks, with Mexico and Panama identified as partial exceptions.

According to UNESCO, these regulatory gaps have encouraged sector-specific, reactive or punitive measures rather than the shared responsibility, transparency and accountability model promoted in its guidelines. The report also highlights concerns about regulatory independence, noting that some oversight bodies remain subordinate to executive authorities.

Electoral integrity is identified as a major concern. The report says social media platforms, microtargeting and generative AI have outpaced the capacity of many electoral authorities, increasing exposure to disinformation and manipulation. Panama is highlighted as an exception because it has criminalised large-scale manipulation through bots and deepfakes.

The roadmap recommends shifting regulation away from individual content moderation towards oversight of platform systems, algorithms, transparency and risk management. It also calls for moderation practices that better reflect local languages, cultures and indigenous communities.

The report concludes that countries in the region have limited bargaining power when dealing individually with major technology companies. It recommends stronger regional cooperation, including negotiating blocs, and suggests using banking and tax authorities to improve oversight of advertising revenues, monetisation and other platform-related economic activity.

Why does it matter?

The report argues that effective digital platform governance requires regional cooperation rather than fragmented national approaches. For many smaller countries, limited regulatory capacity and bargaining power make it difficult to influence the practices of global technology companies or address cross-border challenges such as disinformation, algorithmic transparency and AI-enabled manipulation.

The recommendations also reflect a broader shift in platform regulation. Instead of focusing primarily on individual pieces of content, UNESCO advocates greater oversight of platform design, algorithms, transparency and systemic risks, aligning with emerging international approaches to digital governance.

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