Argentina readies rules for critical providers

The Argentine government is preparing to send Congress a National Sovereignty Defense bill that would create a framework to protect critical infrastructure and set security requirements for suppliers operating in strategic sectors. The move responds to security agendas promoted by the United States as China expands its technology footprint. The debate is unfolding alongside a bill to set digital majority at 15, a municipal report on AI, and a recent decree tied to the RIGI that adds a compliance affidavit.

What would the national sovereignty bill change?

The proposal goes beyond Vaca Muerta and the dispute over Huawei in Neuquén. It would apply to any infrastructure the state classifies as critical. According to TN, the framework would cut across sectors where a disruption could affect security, defense, the economy, or essential services.

Infobae reported that the initiative also calls for a National Security Council with mandatory, cross-cutting security policy, along with a specific regime for the protection of critical, aerospace, and maritime infrastructure. iProfesional added that the bill would amend Law 26.659 to toughen penalties against companies linked to unauthorized activity on the continental shelf.

Under that same framework, sanctions would also reach those companies’ suppliers. According to the coverage cited, the text would bar them from contracting with the Argentine public and private sectors, and would allow in absentia proceedings for offenders tied to unauthorized activity on the continental shelf. Official videos released with the announcements also say the regime would equate the penalties applied to technology suppliers with those facing contracting companies in projects considered risky for sovereignty.

La Nueva reported that the government is also preparing a National Sovereignty Defense bill with a framework to protect critical infrastructure and establish security requirements for suppliers, in response to U.S. security agendas amid China’s technological advance.

What does the digital majority agenda include?

National Deputy Carolina Basualdo has introduced a bill in the Chamber of Deputies to establish digital majority in Argentina at age 15, modeled on France and built around shared responsibility among families, the state, and service providers. The measure seeks to regulate minors’ access to social media.

According to NewsDigitales, the text requires age verification and parental consent for minors under 15, including for platforms based outside Argentina as long as they offer services in the country. It also предусматрия sanctions of between 100 and 100,000 minimum wages and the partial or total suspension of the service.

The same bill sets design obligations for platforms. These include stronger default privacy settings for children’s accounts, the standard deactivation of features that encourage extended use, free parental controls, and tools to see how long users stay connected.

What did General Pueyrredon ask for in AI use?

An official technical report on the introduction of artificial intelligence in General Pueyrredon recommended that contracts with technology companies include specific clauses on ownership and availability of public data, confidentiality, security, traceability, access to logs, reversibility, auditing, and a ban on using municipal data without authorization for external training. It also called for safeguards around governance and data compliance.

The document added personal data protection criteria, according to 0223. These include data minimization, defined purpose, limited retention, anonymization or pseudonymization where appropriate, and stronger controls for sensitive information.

What does Decree 868/2026 add?

Radar Normativo reported that the executive branch issued Decree 868/2026 in Buenos Aires on September 3, 2026. The source does not detail any specific link to cybersecurity, data protection, or technology compliance, although it ties the measure to various national laws.

At the same time, Blog del Contador said Decree 868/2026, linked to the Large Investment Incentive Regime, adds a specific sworn statement to certify compliance with Law 26.659 on hydrocarbon activity on the Argentine Continental Shelf. That step adds a formal compliance layer for projects seeking to enter the incentive regime.