US spy program eyes energy info in Latin America: Report

[Judi Lynn]

US spy program eyes energy info in Latin America: Report
By AP | 10 Jul, 2013, 10.56AM IST

BRASILIA: A US spy program is widely targeting data in emails and telephone calls across Latin America, and is focusing on energy issues, not just information related to military, political or terror topics, a Brazilian newspaper reported Tuesday.

~ snip ~

O Globo published what it said are slides that Snowden released indicating the US effort is gathering information on energy in Mexico and oil in Venezuela. There was no information released about what information was obtained, nor any companies that were targeted.

The report also said that Colombia, the strongest US military ally in South America, along with Mexico and Brazil, were the countries where the US program intercepted the biggest chunks of information on emails and telephone calls during the last five years. Similar activities took place in Argentina and Ecuador, among others.

Figures weren't published on how many intercepts occurred.
O Globo also reported that the documents it's seen indicate the US had data collection centers in 2002 for material intercepted from satellites in Bogota, Caracas, Mexico City and Panama City, along with Brasilia. There was no information published about the existence of these centers after 2002.

More:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/us-spy-program-eyes-energy-info-in-latin-america-report/articleshow/20999134.cms

[ocpagu]

1. Yep. Definitely not terrorists what they are looking for.

This is inconceivable. A foreign policy based on such a level of disregard for privacy as a human right, and lack of respect for other countries' sovereignty can no longer be tolerated. US foreign policy needs to leave the Middle Age.

Thanks for the news, Judi.

[Socialistlemur]

2. Middle age?

I'd say its 21st century big brother, buddy. It's 1984. All governments practice it when they have the means. The USA is a gross abuser because it has the cash, the means, the expertise and a ruling elite willing to stop at nothing. If after seeing renditions, Iraq, torture, human rights abuses, claims they have the power to jail and torture people without judicial warrants, use military courts against civilians, and other such behavior you had any hope whatsoever that this wasn't happening then you gt to be incredibly naive.

And if you think your Chinese made hardware doesn't have built in malware to transmit what you do to a Chinese spy center you got to be doped up. Same applies to just about any country. Russia? When I lived there they had me bugged. You get used to it, it can be an advantage if you know how to use it.

What I write here? The NSA scans it for content. Allah atomic bomb package....hello mr NSA sorry to waste your time. My phone calls? Probably scanned for key words. Emails from my sister? That chick is so radical they probably got her dog wired. Her husband? Hell for all I know he married her because he works for the FBI. Judy? She may be a double agent working for the G2 and the CIA. it pays well. Am I paranoid? You bet. I despise almost every government I run into because all of them are run by individuals who abuse power as soon as they get a hold of it.