A new law approved by El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly will require cooperation from transnational cell phone corporations in the fight against rampant extortions in the country. The Anti-Extortion Law, which was unanimously approved on March 18 despite months of right-wing opposition, is “about joining forces and sharing responsibility,” according to Benito Lara, the Minister of Public Security.

The majority of extortions (coloquially referred to as la renta or the rent) are carried out by incarcerated gang members using cell phones that have been illegally smuggled into the prisons. Micro and small businesses, independent vendors, private bus lines, and inhabitants of impoverished communities and neighborhoods are the primary victims of this crime. Funds collected through extortion are used to support gangs, particularly the families of incarcerated members.

The new law makes it illegal for cell phone companies to provide service to incarcerated persons, granting them three months to block signal coverage in a designated perimeter around all prison facilities in El Salvador. Companies will be assessed a $753,000 fine every day they are found in violation of the law, and those with more than five violations will be forced out of the country. Previously, prison facilities have employed signal blocking equipment that was often sabotaged by prisoners, corrupt guards or the cell phone companies themselves, who increase their signals to surpass the equipment.

The Anti-Extortion Law also expands the definition of the crime to include the attempt to obligate payment, so that extortion is prosecutable regardless of whether the victim pays the extortionist. In addition, as many victims are understandably afraid of turning to the police, any other citizen can now also denounce extortion. Finally, the legislation increases sentences for those tied to gangs or organized crime, elected officials and those already incarcerated, and allows for the seizure of any of the perpetrator’s assets that cannot be legally accounted for.

The initiative came from the National Citizens Security and Coexistence Council convened by the progressive Sánchez Cerén administration as part of a broader, comprehensive proposal for addressing the high rates of violence and crime in El Salvador. The original proposal included jail time among the penalties for telecom representatives who violated the law and fines of up to $1.2 million, but powerful right-wing economic groups fought to exclude jail time and lower the fines.