Chile and Argentina confront rising digital identity and state surveillance threats

In Chile, the rapid expansion of digital services and high internet penetration have increased exposure to cyber threats. Experts warn that weak user awareness, reuse of simple passwords, and low adoption of multi‑factor authentication leave personal data—such as national ID numbers, addresses and financial details—vulnerable to phishing, credential‑stuffing and ransomware attacks. The lack of standardized biometric authentication further hampers protection.

In Argentina, policymakers are debating the adoption of digital‑twin technologies that model societal behavior. While proponents argue these tools could improve public‑service efficiency, critics highlight risks of algorithmic bias, opaque decision‑making and the outsourcing of state surveillance to foreign firms such as Palantir. Concerns include wrongful denial of benefits, privacy erosion and the creation of personalized information bubbles that could undermine democratic discourse.