The Serviço Nacional de Informações (English: National Information Service) or SNI was the intelligence agency of Brazil during its military dictatorship.

It grew out of the Institute for Research and Social Studies (Instituto de Pesquisas e Estudos Sociais or IPES), which Couto e Silva had established to undermine the former Goulart government (1961–64).

Consequently, the CIE sought to undermine his government and to make Army Minister Sylvio Couto Coelho da Frota the next president.

The CIE also waged a pamphlet war against the previously mentioned Couto e Silva, chief of Geisel's Civilian Household, who wanted to shut down the CIE.[5] The SNI provided clearance for anyone seeking a government job or requesting to conduct research in the army archives.

Alfred Stepan, a professor of political science at Columbia University, observed that the SNI differed from similar agencies in other countries.

In retrospect, he noted that it had quite a monopoly in operations and training, with a voice as a ministry in the presidential cabinet and representation in almost every facet of public life.