Amnesty International warns of expanding state surveillance in Argentina

• A new report by Amnesty International warns that state surveillance in Argentina has expanded significantly during the first two years of President Javier Milei’s administration.
• The government has bolstered intelligence and policing capabilities, enabling mass data processing and profiling that threaten privacy, freedom of expression, and assembly.
• These technologies are increasingly used to suppress dissent, curb protest movements, and harass marginalized groups.

Intelligence and Police Reforms

• Two reforms of the national intelligence system have expanded the role of intelligence and counter-espionage agencies.
• Key changes include overly broad definitions of "threats," increased secrecy, easier inter-agency information sharing, and the creation of a new cyber-intelligence agency.
• The Federal Police have implemented new investigation structures, including "cyber-patrols" and social media monitoring without judicial warrants, alongside the unauthorized collection of information on protesters and organizations.

Surveillance Technology and AI

• The government established an "Artificial Intelligence Unit in the Field of Security" with broad powers for data analysis, digital surveillance, facial recognition, and predictive policing, lacking effective accountability mechanisms.
• State infrastructure now includes:
  • Licenses for Big Data and OSINT software, including Maltego.
  • The facial recognition search engine Clearview AI.
  • Drone infrastructure featuring thermal cameras and automatic target tracking.

Report Methodology

• The report, titled "Sensing the Surveillance State," is based on interviews with 21 journalists and activists, an analysis of procurement documents, and information obtained through freedom of information requests.
• Matt Mahmoudi, an AI and human rights researcher at Amnesty International, noted that these technologies have become an entrenched part of the state's control infrastructure.