Milei Administration Denies Alarming Intelligence Plan Targeting Journalists and Public Critics

The office of Argentina's President Javier Milei has strongly rejected sensational reports claiming his administration’s intelligence agency approved a sweeping surveillance plan. Those reports, published by Hugo Alconada Mon in La Nación, suggest that the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE) drafted a strategy to monitor journalists, economists, politicians, and citizens who are critical of the government.

The leaked 170-page document reportedly outlines broad intelligence aims such as preventing terrorism and countering organized crime. However, Alconada Mon describes the plan as full of “generalizations, gray areas and ambiguities,” raising concerns that SIDE might be weaponized to suppress dissent rather than reinforce public security.

One example highlighted in the report is SIDE’s authority to collect intelligence on any individuals who “erode” public confidence in security officials. The language doesn’t clarify whether this refers strictly to foreign agents or could also apply to domestic analysts, media figures, or ordinary citizens expressing critical views.

President Milei’s office confirmed the existence of the new intelligence plan on May 25, but firmly denied its alleged intent to surveil civilians. Officials insisted the document focuses solely on external threats, disavowing its misuse as a tool against political targets or independent voices.

Alconada Mon, one of Argentina’s most prominent investigative journalists and deputy editor of La Nación, says he authenticated the document with two independent sources. He cautioned that its vague wording allows for both legitimate security uses and disturbing applications against domestic critics—suggesting the text is intentionally ambiguous.

SIDE and President Milei’s office maintain they will not use intelligence resources to persecute opponents, journalists, or political adversaries. They emphasized that this administration is the first in decades to commit to refraining from domestic surveillance as a political weapon.