Mexican Drug Cartels

Research exploring the use of social media platforms has largely ignored the fact that these communication outlets provide major opportunities for criminal organizations, such as the Mexican Drug Cartels, to engage in public relations strategies, ease their recruitment tactics, send threatening messages to government authorities, civilians, and to warn off potential rivals. Read the report.

President Trump has called for an all-out assault on violent Mexican drug cartels and the brutal MS-13 street gang. Therefore, it is hard to understand why the White House has included language in the USMCA trade agreement that would give social media platforms broad immunity for hosting user-generated content. Read how these two issues are related in the New York Daily News article.

Mexico's Drug War and Criminal Networks by ACCO expert Nilda M. Garcia examines the effects of technology on three criminal organizations: the Sinaloa cartel, the Zetas, and the Caballeros Templarios. Buy the book.

Platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram enable gangs and drug cartels to taunt and threaten rivals, sell drugs and contraband, coordinate violent attacks, and lure victims into dangerous and sometimes deadly situations. Download the fact sheet.