The limits of access to information in public contracts in Mexico: public versions and testing of personal data

Abstract

This article examines the tension between the right of access to public information and the protection of personal data in the context of public works contracts in Mexico. Based on the case studies of the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) and the Maya Train, it analyzes public versions of contracts and the redaction criteria applied, identifying progress, limitations, and challenges. The Mexican legal framework, led by the General Law of Transparency and Access to Public Information and the General Law on the Protection of Personal Data Held by Obligated Subjects, establishes a system that prioritizes the principle of maximum disclosure while safeguarding confidentiality under exceptional circumstances. However, the findings reveal heterogeneous practices in information classification, uneven application of harm tests, and the need to strengthen institutional capacities. The study concludes that the real challenge does not lie in the lack of regulations, but in consolidating a culture of transparency that turns accountability into a daily practice, through the standardization of criteria, specialized training, independent oversight, and greater citizen participation.