The Mexican National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information and Personal Data Protection (INAI) has been non-operational for nearly two months due to a lack of legal quorum, leaving thousands of pending cases concerning access to information and data protection unresolved. This impasse stems from the Senate’s failure to appoint a new commissioner, despite a judicial order mandating the selection. As a result, the autonomous body is unable to make decisions, severely hindering citizens’ rights to transparency and privacy. The refusal of legislative bodies to convene for an extraordinary session highlights a critical governance failure. Without the required five commissioners, the INAI cannot function, creating a bottleneck that undermines legal certainty. This situation demonstrates how political inaction directly obstructs administrative efficiency and the enforcement of transparency laws. This case is relevant to open data because it illustrates the fragility of institutional frameworks supporting data rights. Open data relies on robust oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability and access. When regulatory bodies are paralyzed, the transparency infrastructure collapses, undermining public trust and the practical application of open government principles.
Source:Published on 2023-06-08