Structural Changes to the Argentine Intelligence Law

Through Decree 941/2025, published in the Official Gazette on January 2, 2026, the Executive Branch introduced structural changes to National Intelligence Law 25520.

The decree provides for a comprehensive reorganization of the Argentine Intelligence System, redefines the powers of its member agencies, and expands certain operational powers. The objective is to improve interagency coordination, avoid functional overlaps, and strengthen the response to strategic threats, particularly in the areas of counterintelligence and cybersecurity.
 

1. Institutional reorganization and strengthening of the SIDE

The decree reaffirms the Secretariat of State Intelligence (SIDE) as the highest body of the Argentine Intelligence System, assigning it greater strategic leadership and coordination functions. Within this framework, significant changes are made to the structure and names of various agencies, including the following:

•    National Security Agency (ASN): renamed the National Counterintelligence Agency (ANC). Its purpose is to produce national intelligence related to actors, events, risks, opportunities, and threats within the national jurisdiction by obtaining, gathering, and analyzing information, with a preventive approach aimed at identifying and assessing threats to national security, such as espionage, sabotage, interference, and influence.

• Federal Cybersecurity Agency (AFC): renamed the Federal Cyber Intelligence Agency (AFC). It has specific jurisdiction over the production of national intelligence in cyberspace and the radio spectrum that may affect national security, critical digital infrastructure, national heritage, technological sovereignty, and/or the integrity of public and private information.

• Internal Affairs Division (DAI): transformed into the General Intelligence Inspectorate (IGI). Its functions of conducting audits, internal investigations, inspections, and reviews aimed at controlling and evaluating the performance, economy of resources, effectiveness, and functional integration of the bodies and personnel that make up the national intelligence system are reinforced.

The regulation also provides for the dissolution of the National Directorate of Strategic Military Intelligence, transferring its functions, personnel, and resources to the General Directorate of Intelligence of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces. The objective is to eliminate functional overlaps and concentrate the production of strategic military intelligence under a unified scheme.
 

2. Cybersecurity and cyber intelligence: functional separation

Cybersecurity and cyber intelligence functions are assigned to different agencies, establishing a functional differentiation between the two areas. Within this framework, the National Cybersecurity Center (CNC) is created as a decentralized agency under the authority of the Chief of the President’s Chief of Staff. It has jurisdiction over the design, implementation, and coordination of national cybersecurity policy and response to cyber incidents.

For its part, the Federal Cyber Intelligence Agency (AFC) is responsible for producing national intelligence related to threats that develop in cyberspace, keeping intelligence functions separate from the technical or regulatory functions specific to cybersecurity.
 

3.    Operational powers and special attributions

The reform expands the operational powers of the agencies of the Argentine Intelligence System. They are empowered to provide their own security and to act in situations that put their facilities, personnel, or operations at risk.

In addition, intelligence personnel may intervene in specific cases, such as situations of flagrant offense or at the request of the courts and must immediately notify the competent security forces. The reform also strengthens the SIDE's ability to request information from other state agencies and to request support from the armed forces and security forces when necessary to carry out its functions.
 

4.    Intelligence communities

The reform creates the National Intelligence Community (CITN) and the National Information Community (CIFN) as forums for coordination between the agencies of the Argentine Intelligence System and other public entities that produce information. These bodies are designed to facilitate the exchange of information and coordination between agencies, under the leadership of the SIDE and subject to the limits and prohibitions established in the Argentine Intelligence System.
 

5. Entry into force and legislative control

Decree 941/2025 entered into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette and was referred to the Permanent Bicameral Commission of the National Congress, subject to the validity control provided for this type of regulation.