BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Brazil has called on the US to respond to reports that it has spied on Brazilian companies and individuals. Speaking on Tuesday, the country’s foreign minister, Antonio Patriota, spoke of the importance to protect people’s rights and freedom.

Antonio Patriota said, "The right to privacy, the individual rights of citizens, which could be dealt with in the Human Rights Council. There is already a debate at the Human Rights Council over the freedom of the Internet, but we would like to broaden this debate, even Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff referred to the importance of human rights in regards to this issue. We sent a formal request for an explanation and now we are waiting for a formal response from the ."

Brazilian newspaper O Globo printed a report on Sunday saying the US’ Central Intelligence Agency and NSA had gathered telephone and e-mail data in Brazil, using Brazil-based equipment to do so.

Two days later, the daily reported the NSA had targeted most Latin American countries in its spying programs. Citing documents leaked by Edward Snowden, it said NSA surveillance went beyond military affairs, reaching to what it termed "commercial secrets." These included petroleum and energy deals in Venezuela and Mexico.

(Source: CNTV.cn)