The Agência Brasileira de Inteligência (ABIN), or Brazilian Intelligence Agency, is the only state agency tasked to plan and execute intelligence activities in support of national government decision-making. The agency is located in the country’s capital, Brasília, within the Southern Police Sector (SPO). ABIN is the central body of the Brazilian Intelligence System (SISBIN), and reports directly to the President of the Republic. The agency is responsible for planning, executing, coordinating, supervising, and controlling the intelligence activities of the country.
The military and dictatorial history of the country has heavily influenced intelligence in Brazil. As such, the nation has made significant efforts to develop its intelligence services within a democratic framework, always respecting the Rule of Law. Despite these efforts, ABIN has been involved in numerous scandals and controversies. Thus, the agency must make stronger efforts in the development of its services to prevent abuses in the future.
1 Principles and Symbol of ABIN
1.1. Values
The agency publicly portrays specific values in relation to their work that agency officers must maintain at all times.
- Loyalty
- Impartiality
- Professionalism
- Cooperation
- Safety
- Excellence of Products
1.2. Symbol
The current symbol of ABIN is representative of the national flag and its characteristic emblem. At the center, a blue circle symbolising the globe appears. The blue color of the globe further represents intelligence based on rationality. Within it, five white stars symbolise the sky above the country, representing the Southern Cross constellation. These five stars also portray a look to the future in the institution. Surrounding the circle, two rings intersect in a symbol of Brazil’s location in the globe, as well as in an understanding of the threats and opportunities of the country. The symbol was approved in 2021, and with it, a flag for the organisation was created. [source]
2 Brazilian Intelligence History
2.1. Brazilian Intelligence during the Dictatorship
The Federal Information and Counterinformation Service, the first civilian intelligence agency in Brazil, was established in 1946 and operated within the Department of Political and Social Order. In 1964, with the coup d’état that established the military dictatorship, intelligence in the country became a means for surveillance with the creation of the National Information Service (SNI). The development of this agency occurred within the context of the cold war. Therefore, the agency held clear ideological characteristics. [source]
Within the SNI, the intelligence apparatus of the country spread enormously. The agency held office in all public institutions of the country—universities, labour unions, and state-owned companies. Additionally, several NGOs, activists, and institutions, accused the agency of forced disappearances and overall human rights violations. [source]
2.2. ABIN-Agência Brasileira de Inteligência
In 1999, nine years after the formal transition towards democracy in the country, ABIN was created. Established under Law No 9.883 of 7 December 1999, the purpose of the agency was to inform the President of the Republic about national affairs, an aim that remains to this day. Given the history of intelligence abuses and heavy militarisation of security in the country during the dictatorship, several laws and reforms have passed in Brazil in an attempt to conduct intelligence in a democratic way. [source]
In 2015, ABIN changed from being under the Presidential Security Offic, to being part of the structure of the Government Secretariat. Furthermore, in 2023, the President transferred ABIN under the Civil House of the Presidency of the Republic structure. Therefore, the Director General of ABIN responds to the Minister of State of the Civil House. [source, source]
3 Organisation
3.1. ABIN’s Place in Government
ABIN is the central intelligence agency of the Brazilian Government, operating within SISBIN. Specifically, ABIN reports to the Minister of State, who is the head of the Civil House of the country, and who in turn reports directly to the President of the Republic. Since 2023, the General Director of ABIN has been Luiz Fernando Corrêa. [source, source]
The agency holds 26 superintendencies, one in each state capital. Additionally, they hold strategic subunits in strategic locations, such as Amazonas state. The specialised units allow these superintendencies to plan and execute intelligence activities. These units guide the intelligence activities, as well as counterintelligence activities, and intelligence operations. [source]
3.2. ABIN Personnel Recruitment
The recruitment procedure for ABIN is done through a public selection contest. The Brazilian Center for Research publishes the competitions publicly, meaning anyone can apply. The acceptance process includes five stages: written assessment, social investigation, medical and psychological evaluation, physical fitness test, and approval for the Intelligence Training Course. [source]
The last selection procedure was done in 2018. Relevantly, it sought to fill 300 positions, 220 of which were intelligence officer vacancies (also known as analysts), 60 of which were for technical intelligence officers, and 20 of which were for intelligence agents. The ABIN website publicly advertises that the Ministry of Economy could accept new recruits, even though it has already filled all the positions. This is likely an incentive to allow qualified people to apply regardless of the state of the vacancies. [source]
3.3. Special Programs
The ABIN website advertises three different programs. The first is called the PNPC, or the National Program for Protection of Sensitive Knowledge. This program serves as a consultancy service that aims to protect sensitive knowledge in both public and private national institutions. As such, the goal of this program is to prevent espionage, sabotage, and information leaks. In its consultancy functions, the program provides risk assessments, good safety manuals, awareness raising actions, and lectures to institutions, thus improving security awareness throughout the government. [source]
The second advertised program of ABIN is called the Pangea. This program has since 2018 coordinated government, businesses, and academic institutions in the Prevention and Mitigation of the Risk of Selected Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Events. This program seeks to aid decision-making in the mentioned areas of concern, particularly as regards Brazilian society, agriculture, and natural resources. [source]
The third and last program publicly available is the Pronabens, or the National Program for State-Business Integration in the Area of Sensitive Goods. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation’s General Coordination of Sensitive Goods conducts this program in partnership and carries out outreach activities for those working with sensitive technologies or dual-use goods. This project began as a result of Brazil’s commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. [source]
3.4. Offices Abroad
Besides their operations within the country, ABIN acknowledges 18 offices around the world. These offices abroad exchange and generate information in areas concerning the Brazilian government. These offices are located in Argentina, Australia, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Spain, The United States, and Venezuela. [source]
3.5. National Intelligence Policy
The Brazilian National Intelligence Policy is the body that guides intelligence activity. Furthermore, the policy regulates intelligence work by establishing the parameters, limits, premises, objectives, and instruments. In fact, the National Intelligence Policy identifies the main threats to Brazil: espionage, sabotage, foreign interference, actions contrary to national sovereignty, cyberattacks, terrorism, illegal activities involving dual-use goods and sensitive technologies, weapons of mass destruction, organised crime, corruption, and actions contrary to the rule of law. [source]
4 ABIN Scandals
In 2008, the Director General of ABIN was fired after he irregularly collaborated with the Federal Police. Additionally, authorities accused the former Director of violating functional secrecy by leaking information to the press about Operation Satyagraha and conducting unauthorised wiretaps. This operation investigated a corruption and money laundering scheme allegedly to pay bribes in support of then-and-now President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. [source, source]
Most recently, in 2024, investigators accused ABIN of running a clandestine operation from 2019 to 2022 that illegally surveilled members of the opposition to former president Bolsonaro. Alexandre Ramagem, who served as Director General of ABIN during Bolsonaro’s presidency, allegedly ran the operation. This clandestine operation allegedly conducted illegal wiretaps and targeted personal phones and computers. [source]
5 Conclusion
The Agência Brasileira de Inteligência holds its place as the main pillar in intelligence activities in Brazil. A heavy authoritarian past, and several scandals in recent history, have marked its evolution. As a result, in addition to safeguarding the Brazilian State, the nation’s legal framework requires the agency to protect democratic values and the Rule of Law. While the agency has experienced progress in the past decades, the issue of oversight remains a growth area.
The agency focuses on a wide spectrum of threats, both internal and external. Additionally, one aspect that stands out are its projects. Unlike several intelligence agencies, ABIN offers very public and transparent consultancy and lecture services that strengthen governmental institutions, as well as the academic and private sphere. As such, ABIN seeks to portray itself as a very open intelligence agency.