NSA Engaged in Broad Surveillance of Latin America

Spying Also Targeted Commercial Interests

NSA surveillance is becoming a watchword across the world, and Latin America is the latest to feel the impact, with Brazil’s O Globo newspaper revealing broad NSA spying operations across the region, targeting not just military affairs, but also commercial interests region-wide.

Some of the surveillance like efforts to collect data on Venezuela’s military purchases, wouldn’t be all that surprising for the US to be doing, but the sheer scope of the surveillance and its tendency to span both rivals and allies in the region is fueling concerns.

Brazil is said to be the “main target” of the surveillance, and President Dilma Rousseff warned that if the reports prove true, and so far every indication is that they will, they represent “violations of sovereignty and human rights.”

Brazil’s parliament is up in arms about the matter as well, with some urging the government to cancel defense contracts with US firms in retaliation and others suggesting that Brazil be the next nation to step up and give asylum to Edward Snowden, the US whistleblower who uncovered the actions.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.