President Javier Milei’s administration has denied news reports claiming that a secret new intelligence plan may enable the surveillance of journalists, experts and opposition figures who are critical of the government.
In a report for the La Nación newspaper last Sunday, investigative journalist Hugo Alconada Mon revealed that Argentina’s intelligence agency, the Secretaría de Inteligencia del Estado (SIDE), has approved a new multi-year National Intelligence Plan.
A leaked 170-page document outlining the plan – reportedly verified by two independent sources – raises the possibility of domestic espionage targeting individuals perceived to undermine public trust in government officials or economic policy.
The plan, according to the report, contains "generalisations, grey areas and ambiguities" that could enable the surveillance of anyone who "erodes" trust in security officials or "generates loss of trust" in economic policies.
The leaked plan – reportedly approved in late 2024 under SIDE director Sergio Neiffert – could therefore allow agents to collect information on journalists, economists, academics and other critics of President Milei’s administration.
It also outlines more conventional priorities, such as combating drug-trafficking, terrorism, separatist Mapuche movements and organised crime, as well as the protection of Argentina’s strategic interests in the South Atlantic and Antarctica.
Additional reporting published by Clarín midweek said the plan prioritises monitoring “cyber-operators,” anarchist groups, and individuals using artificial intelligence or social media to “manipulate narratives” or destabilise democratic institutions.
One particularly controversial section refers to actors who may “alter government decisions via false information” or attempt to “create fictitious conflicts with other states.”
Intelligence sources cited by the press expressed concern over vague phrasing that could be interpreted broadly — including potential surveillance of citizens sharing dissenting views online.
Secret
According to La Nación, the intelligence plan was developed under the leadership of SIDE chief Sergio Neiffert, who reports directly to top presidential advisor Santiago Caputo.
The document, classified as secret, was accessible only to the President, the Intelligence Secretariat, and the Permanent Bicameral Committee for Monitoring Intelligence in Congress. But a lawyer leaked the plan, claiming it could be applied to those who question government decisions – including members of the media and academic community.
Documents obtained by reporters suggest the National Intelligence Plan (PIN) fails to distinguish between foreign intelligence threats and legitimate critics, referencing individuals who may "manipulate" public opinion or spread "disinformation" during elections.
Experts say the vague language could be used to justify surveillance of journalists, social activists and even ordinary citizens who criticise President Milei's administration, targeting dissenters under the guise of defending democratic stability.
Legal analysts cautioned that the provisions could conflict with Argentina’s Law 25.520 on National Intelligence, which prohibits domestic surveillance without judicial authorisation. The law also bans the collection of information on individuals based solely on political beliefs or public statements.
Alconada Mon, who first reported on the plan, has said he has faced hacking attempts and threats since the article’s publication.
“Since Monday, my phone has been bombarded with threats, hacking attempts, and efforts to impersonate me online,” he said in a post on social media.
Congress's Bicameral Intelligence Committee, chaired by Unión Cívica Radical (UCR) Senator Martín Lousteau, this week summoned Neiffert to clarify the plan’s goals. However, committee members can only request changes, not approve or reject the document.
The revelations have evoked comparisons with Argentina’s past, when intelligence agencies played controversial roles in surveilling political dissidents during the country’s military dictatorship (1976–1983). Since the return to democracy, SIDE – which for some years was known as the AFI, or Agencia Federal Inteligencia – has often faced criticism for murky practices and judicial and political overreach.
Denial
While the government did not deny the existence of the plan, it firmly rejected the interpretation that it targets dissenters.
In a statement shared on social media, the Office of the President declared: “This is the first government in decades that has taken the political decision not to use the SIDE to persecute opposition politicians or journalists.”
It continued: “The President has ordered the reconstruction of the national intelligence system, which was dismantled by previous administrations that misused its resources for political infighting. The National Intelligence Plan is a classified document that outlines the intelligence system’s priorities in promoting Argentina’s strategic interests.”
However, government rhetoric has raised concerns. In recent public comments, including from President Milei himself, officials have called for “more hatred” of the non-aligned press and warned that certain outlets may attempt to “manipulate” public opinion or spread disinformation during the electoral cycle.
“Journalists are the biggest creators of fake news in human history,” said Milei in a recent post on social media. He has previously said Argentines “don’t hate journalists enough.”
Earlier this month, President Milei approved a substantial funding increase for SIDE. According to Administrative Decision 10/2025, published in the Official Gazette, the agency was allocated an additional 25.25 billion pesos (approximately US$22 million), bringing its total annual budget to 80.87 billion pesos (about US$70.7 million). Of that, 13.44 billion pesos are designated for discretionary spending under Neiffert’s direct control.
This follows controversy late last year, when the government tried to allocate over 100 billion pesos to intelligence services despite imposing sweeping austerity measures across other sectors. At the time, the government justified the move as “budget adjustments” between the Security and Defence Ministries and SIDE, without providing further details on the spending.
Freedom of speech
The controversy has intensified tensions between the Milei administration and media critics, fuelling concerns about press freedom and surveillance capacities.
Last year, Milei shut down Argentina's state news agency Télam and turned it into an advertising agency – triggering widespread protests by media workers. The self-described “anarcho-capitalist” has also pressured outlets with huge cuts in state advertising, though money has instead been funnelled to allies through state-run companies.
Economy Minister Luis Caputo recently claimed that journalism "is a profession that tends to disappear," whilst presidential adviser Santiago Caputo has been accused of intimidating photographers. The rhetoric has coincided with an increase in physical attacks on journalists, including recent incidents where reporters and photographers covering protest rallies have been struck or assaulted by the security forces.
Allies rushed to Milei’s defence this week, saying the intelligence plan has been misrepresented. “No democratic government can ignore misinformation campaigns coordinated from abroad,” said national deputy José Luis Espert, a Milei ally. “We’re modernising intelligence – not silencing dissent.”
Human rights and press freedom groups have also expressed alarm. The Buenos Centre for Legal and Social Studies (CELS) rights group said the plan “echoes the darkest chapters of Argentina’s intelligence history” and urged Congress to investigate. The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) also criticised the plan, warning it could “create a chilling effect on public debate.”
NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) delivered a scathing assessment in a recent report, warning that “President Javier Milei stigmatised journalists, dismantled public media outlets and used state advertising as a political weapon.”
Argentina tumbled 47 places to 87th out of 180 countries in RSF's annual press freedom ranking since Milei took office in December 2023.
– TIMES/PERFIL
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