Argentina's chief denies that the proposed intelligence scheme would empower monitoring of journalists and political figures.
In a shocking turn of events, rumors are swirling about a secretive new plan from the office of Argentinian President Javier Milei. The plan, if true, could potentially see the surveillance of journalists, politicians, and economists.
The explosive claims come from an investigative piece by journalist Hugo Alconada Mon in the newspaper La Nacion. The article delves into a leaked National Intelligence Plan by Argentina's State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE). Alconada Mon alleges that the plan, while aiming to prevent terrorism and fight organized crime, is deliberately vague, filled with "generalizations, gray areas, and ambiguities".
The SIDE's broad powers supposedly extend to gathering information on anyone deemed to "erode public confidence in the officials in charge of ensuring the nation's security". The problem? It's unclear who exactly falls under this category - foreign agents, experts, curious journalists, or even ordinary citizens questioning the actions of the national security minister.
Javier Milei's office has acknowledged the existence of the new intelligence plan but vehemently denies it will be used for such purposes. However, Alconada Mon, a seasoned investigative reporter and deputy editor of La Nacion, claims to have verified the authenticity of the 170-page document with two independent sources.
"It's written in such an ambiguous way that it allows you to apply it correctly or in a disturbing way," Alconada Mon shared with our team. Our team, for lack of access to the document, could not independently verify it.
Alconada Mon suggests that the plan could be aimed at countering potential foreign interference, such as Russia's alleged attempts to influence elections in other countries. But if true, a provision in the PIN, which focuses on monitoring individuals who "manipulate public opinion", could potentially cast a wide net, ensnaring analysts, politicians, journalists, or anyone voicing their opinion.
The president's office has dismissed the notion, reassuring the public that this is the first government in decades not to use the SIDE to persecute opponents, journalists, and political adversaries. The controversy, however, has ratcheted up tensions over press freedom and government surveillance in Argentina. Critics, including Reporters Without Borders, have been vocal about their concerns over the Milei administration's treatment of journalists.
Contributions to this story were made by Michael Rios from our team.
The allegations in the investigative piece by Hugo Alconada Mon, published in La Nacion, center around a leaked National Intelligence Plan that could potentially be used for policy-and-legislation related to political surveillance, raising concerns about the freedom of speech and journalism in Argentina. Amidst the controversy, Argentina's general-news has been dominated by discussions about the secretive new plan from President Javier Milei.
