The president of Brazilian state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PBR, PETR4.BR), or Petrobras, says she's "uncomfortable" with news that the company may have been the target of spying by the U.S., but said she doesn't believe any crucial technology was stolen.
The president of Brazilian state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PBR, PETR4.BR), or Petrobras, says she's "uncomfortable" with news that the company may have been the target of spying by the U.S., but said she doesn't believe any crucial technology was stolen.
"This [allegation of spying] makes us uncomfortable. We don't know what
got out," Petrobras President Maria das Gracas Foster told a committee in
the Brazilian senate.
The committee is investigating allegations made by a Brazilian TV station that
the U.S. National Security Agency spied on
Brazil
's
President Dilma Rousseff and Petrobras, based on documents provided by former
NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
The CEO admitted she doesn't know exactly what was targeted by the spying, but
said she doesn't believe any of the firm's technology secrets had been stolen. Among
other technologies, Petrobras is regarded as an expert in certain high-tech
equipment used in deep-sea drilling for oil and gas.
"Occasional access to our data, although unacceptable, doesn't represent a
risk regarding technology. For a competitor to gain this, they need to have
continuous access, for a long period of time," Ms. Foster said.
The executive said there is no evidence that the firm's exploration and
production data was accessed. Petrobras has an enormous investment program to
search for oil and gas in
Brazil
and
overseas, and analysts say that access to that information could provide
competitors with a strategic advantage.
President Rousseff on Tuesday postponed a state visit to the
U.S.
October as a result of the fallout from the spying scandal. In a statement, the
Brazilian government said that if it gets a full explanation from the
U.S.
, the
state visit can be rescheduled.
The
U.S.
hasn't discussed individual cases, but it has acknowledged that it collects
information about economic and financial matters, and terrorist financing. It
has, however, rejected claims it's stolen secrets for commercial purposes.
"What we do not do, as we have said many times, is use our foreign
intelligence capabilities to steal the trade secrets of foreign companies on
behalf of -- or give intelligence we collect to -- U.S. companies to enhance
their international competitiveness or increase their bottom line,"
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said in a general statement on
espionage released Sept. 9.
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