SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, Mexico — A controversial judicial crackdown on local journalists in San Luis Potosí has been linked to Senator Ruth González Silva, who is also the wife of the state’s governor, Ricardo Gallardo Cardona.
Reports indicate that González is the undisclosed complainant whose accusations triggered the recent arrests and legal actions targeting multiple media professionals.
The legal crusade stems from a highly disputed piece of legislation enacted in 2025, popularly known as the “Serrano Law.” The reform to the state’s penal code criminalized the malicious use of artificial intelligence and digital alteration, following the viral spread of an altered video that linked Governor Gallardo to organized crime. Under this law, the state has targeted those accused of manipulating digital content.
González’s specific complaint involves a manipulated digital image connecting her with the governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha. While the State Attorney General’s Office, led by María Manuela García, originally kept the identity of the complainant confidential under “reserved identity” protocols, judicial sources and internal defense teams confirmed that the first lady and senator is the driving force behind the case.
The fallout from the law has sparked widespread national alarm. Currently, two female journalists are in prison, and arrest warrants have been issued for at least eight other individuals, including journalist Anahí Torres González, who ironically already held federal protection status following a previous kidnapping attempt.
Human rights organizations, including Article 19, have fiercely condemned the prosecution, classifying it as judicial harassment intended to muzzle the critical press. Critics allege that the “Serrano Law” is being weaponized by the ruling family to silence opposition ahead of upcoming gubernatorial races.
Press freedom advocates have launched an initiative demanding the immediate repeal of the law, while the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) has challenged its constitutionality before Mexico’s Supreme Court.
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