The resurgence of a new SIDE under the libertarian administration, an updated version of the sinister State Intelligence Secretariat, which the civil-military dictatorship used to carry out the most abhorrent acts between 1976 and 1983, is now under a new system of control and surveillance; it is reestablished to act once again, violating privacy and the free exercise of freedom of expression.
All of this is happening while Javier Milei's administration has implemented drastic cuts across all national government agencies. In this case, however, and inversely, it is the intelligence and espionage department that receives a more than significant budget increase . Furthermore, the release of a secret directive issued by the SIDE (National Intelligence Service) at the end of January sheds light on its scope.
This instruction, signed by the Director of Operations, Diego Kravetz, establishes the "identification and monitoring" of all "vulnerable social groups" and "non-state actors" that could "capitalize on the growing political polarization" in Argentina. This is despite the fact that the SIDE is not supposed to conduct intelligence on domestic politics.
The purpose of the warrant is to gather as much information as possible on these actors and delve deeper into their "capabilities and motivations," as well as to investigate their impact on the country's political and social structure.
The mandate aims to produce reports that will be sent to the highest authorities of the intelligence agency. It also specifies that monitoring should extend to foreign "state actors" that could "influence political developments" through "cyberattacks, disinformation operations, and financing of political actors," without clarifying who these actors would be.
However, the scope of the order leaves no room for doubt: the objective is to pursue all expressions contrary to the "La Libertad Avanza" government and its economic policies.
The directive includes what they describe as "vulnerable social actors," which indicates an attempt to control social movements, journalists, and analysts who question government decisions. The parallel with the last military dictatorship is both ominous and evident.
These directives are part of a long-term strategic program published by SIDE itself and called the National Intelligence Plan (PIN). Within this framework, the agency plans to "gather information" on actors such as picketers, social movements, and other social organizations.
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