Argentine Government Expanded AI-Powered Mass Surveillance, Amnesty International Reports
Amnesty International reports that the Argentine Government under President Javier Milei spent 1.2 million dollars between 2024 and 2025 to acquire AI-powered mass surveillance technologies including facial recognition, drones, and social media monitoring systems. The report documents that these tools have been used to restrict freedoms of expression and assembly, with journalists, activists and migrants reportedly modifying their behavior due to fear of surveillance-based identification.
What happened
Between 2024 and 2025, the Argentine Government under President Javier Milei acquired surveillance technologies worth 1.2 million dollars, according to an Amnesty International report released on 19 August 2026. The acquisitions include facial recognition software, social media monitoring platforms, drones with automated tracking, thermal cameras, real-time image transmission systems, and tools to collect data from social media, websites, the dark web and public databases.
Amnesty International documented institutional reforms implemented through resolutions and decrees to expand the state's information collection and surveillance capabilities. The organization stated these developments represent an attack on human rights and have been used to target dissidents, deter protest movements, and harass marginalized groups.
Reported impact
Journalists, activists and migrants have been particularly affected by these surveillance tools. According to Amnesty International's interviews with affected individuals, some began self-censoring and reducing participation in protests out of fear of identification.
One activist, Ana Tapia from the Jubilados Insurgentes collective, described drones hovering just meters above protesters during demonstrations, expressing concern about the invasive nature of the surveillance.
Index analysis
Amnesty International researcher Matt Mahmoudi stated the technologies have become integral to state control infrastructure, restricting the free participation in demonstrations. He noted that as people feel increasingly watched by drones and facial recognition cameras, they modify their behavior either by taking precautions at protests or choosing not to attend.
Governance controls
The Argentine Government rejected the accusations of mass surveillance, instead justifying investments in surveillance technologies on grounds of state security.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.