Latin American complaints over U.S. spying ignore their own wiretap programs

[baldguy]

Several Latin American presidents have complained bitterly following recent revelations about U.S. electronic surveillance, but there’s a bit of hypocrisy in some of their griping.

At least four Latin countries have requested, and received, U.S. help in setting up eavesdropping programs of their own, ostensibly designed to fight organized crime. But the programs are easily diverted to political ends, and with weak rule of law in parts of the region, wiretapping scandals erupt every few months.

The latest brouhaha occurred six weeks ago in Panama, where a leading presidential candidate complained of wiretapping by the government.

...

Some experts on Latin America say they believe wiretapping is probably widespread – and not just under authoritarian leaders, and is a reflection of political mistrust, lack of adherence to law and poor accountability.

“You know that old saying,” said Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think tank. “In God we trust, in everyone else we spy.”

More:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/07/11/196461/latin-american-complaints-over.html#.UeCuIm009EK

Snowden and Venezuela: My bizarre experience in the surveillance state

In 2009, a private call placed from the US by Isabel Lara to her mother was broadcast on Venezuelan state TV. Secretly taped calls are routinely used there to disgrace political enemies—or worse. To locals, the South American surveillance state is an odd place for government transparency advocate and NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden to end up.

Edward Snowden is heading to Venezuela? Seriously?

The Venezuelan government's offer of "humanitarian asylum" to Edward Snowden rang hollow to most Venezuelans, who are by now used to the government spying on opposition leaders, journalists and even their own loyalists. Not only does the government routinely record their phone conversations, it broadcasts them on government-owned TV channels.

The news that the NSA leaker has been offered asylum in Venezuela seems especially ironic to my mother and me. A few years ago, we had the bizarre experience of hearing one of our private phone calls aired on Venezuelan TV. It was played over and over again and "analyzed" by pro-government talk show host Mario Silva—a man who is now in disgrace himself because, in a weird twist of fate, a recording of him was leaked and broadcast on TV.

What was most surreal about our experience was that there was no excuse or justification for taping our phone conversation. None was needed. The government just had it.

More:
http://boingboing.net/2013/07/08/snowden-and-venezuela-my-biza.html

[flamingdem]

1. Cuba wiretaps blatantly they've shared some of their

security people with Venezuela.

The only safety mechanism for an American is that they're not very good with languages there!

Que?

[arely staircase]

2. a lot of people need to act like they are shocked and offended

but they really are neither. it is the realpolitik world that snowden seems to have not realized is the real world.

oh well

sucks for him

[BenzoDia]

3. So, basically everyone is scared that the NSA will turn us into Venezuela.

Got it.

[Blackford]

5. You left out the irony

that those who are scared the NSA will turn us into Venezuela must also put Venezuela on a pedestal as a bastion for democracy.

[BenzoDia]

8. No kidding. The mental hoops people are jumping through are pretty insane.

[Fumesucker]

4. But MOM! Everybody's doing it! Even Venezula!

It's what all the kewl kids are doing!

[Mojorabbit]

9. I know right! nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. Why would any American give a FUCK what other governments subject their citizens to?

Your move.

[JaneyVee]

7. They're all pointing fingers at us to distract their citizens from pointing fingers at them.