The Federal Intelligence Agency () mostly known for its abbreviation AFI, was the principal
intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a government agency responsible for the collection, Intelligence analysis, analysis, and exploitation of information in support of law enforcement, national security, military, public safety, and foreign policy obj ...
of
Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
.
This organization was the successor to the
Secretariat of Intelligence
Secretariat of Intelligence of the State (, mostly known by its acronym SIDE) is the premier intelligence agency of the Argentina, Argentine Republic and head of its Sistema de Inteligencia Nacional, National Intelligence System.
Chaired by the ...
(mostly known for its acronym "SIDE") and has two purposes: to collect national intelligence for governmental needs and criminal intelligence. It also was transferred from the
Ministry of Security, to the National Criminal Intelligence.
The agency was created by Law 27,126 amending the ''National Intelligence Act'' entering into force 120 days after enactment of the Act. According to regulations shall govern all communication by the Director General or Deputy Director General any interaction being punished by the members of the AFI any action or relationship regulated by the law establishing the Federal Intelligence Agency. In turn AFI officials should make affidavits without distinction of degrees.
The organization was dissolved in July 2024 by president
Javier Milei
Javier Gerardo Milei (born 22 October 1970) is an Argentine politician and economist who has served as President of Argentina since 2023. Milei also served as a national deputy representing the City of Buenos Aires for the party La Libertad ...
,
restoring the
Secretariat of Intelligence
Secretariat of Intelligence of the State (, mostly known by its acronym SIDE) is the premier intelligence agency of the Argentina, Argentine Republic and head of its Sistema de Inteligencia Nacional, National Intelligence System.
Chaired by the ...
(SIDE).
[El Gobierno disolvió la AFI y anunció cambios en el Sistema de Inteligencia Nacional]
on Infobae, 15 Jul 2024
Overview
This agency was ruled by the Law of National Intelligence #25,520, promulgated in March 2015 and entered into force 120 days after that. Changes to previous legislation included the dissolution of Secretariat of Intelligence, with the AFI as its successor. Likewise, the
Ministry of Security transferred the "National Direction of Criminal Intelligence" to AFI.
The organization was put under the
Supreme Court
In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
in 2015, alleging that "...the execution of a communication intervention order is carried out by a body other than the one that is part of the investigation"
The Argentinian Federal Prosecutor Cecilia Incardona indictment against the former director of the AFI
Gustavo Arribas and his deputy director
Silvia Majdalani in 2020, for illegal espionage against 50 politicians, including the then president
Cristina Kirchner in 2018. A group of 18 employees is said to have spied on Kirchner's notebooks, among other things.
In July 2024, president of Argentina dissolved the AFI, replacing it with the former intelligence agency,
Secretariat of Intelligence
Secretariat of Intelligence of the State (, mostly known by its acronym SIDE) is the premier intelligence agency of the Argentina, Argentine Republic and head of its Sistema de Inteligencia Nacional, National Intelligence System.
Chaired by the ...
(popularly known for its acronym "SIDE").
[
]
Board
The AFI main authorities (general director and vice-director) were appointed by the President of Argentina, then confirmed by the Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
. Their functions were regulated by Law 25,520.Modificatoria
on InfoLeg
References
{{coord, -34.607, -58.3706, type:city, format=dms, display=title
Defunct Argentine intelligence agencies
2024 disestablishments in Argentina
Argentine intelligence agencies
Counterintelligence agencies
Government agencies established in 2015
Government buildings in Argentina
Buildings and structures in Buenos Aires
Buildings and structures completed in 1929