Discreet: A Democratic Intelligence Agency Launched at Berlin Biennale

At the 9th Berlin Biennale in 2016, philosopher Armen Avanessian and curator Alexander Martos launched Discreet, a project to found a democratic intelligence agency serving the people. The initiative ran from June 22 to July 11, bringing together experts in technology, art, finance, and politics to imagine an alternative to existing secret services, which they view as undemocratic and turned against citizens. Discreet aims to use the techniques of intelligence agencies but transparently and for the public good. The project is supported by architect Markus Miessen, who contributed spatial design. Avanessian argues that data is the decisive resource of the 21st century, held by corporations like Google and Amazon, and only intelligence agencies can compete economically. He criticizes the art world's critical art as ineffective, noting that the last Venice Biennale was full of critical works yet failed to change structures. Discreet seeks to move beyond critique to create real alternatives. The project includes public, semi-public, and closed sessions, with agents sharing expertise across law, finance, hacking, and political theory. Avanessian emphasizes that this is a serious, not ironic, endeavor, and that failure is possible but unprecedented.