Brazil to use homegrown technology to shield gov't e-mails from snooping

Brazil plans to set up an encrypted national e-mail service to shield government communications from unwanted surveillance.

Marcos Mazoni, head of the Federal Data Processing System, said using Expresso V3 in the communications system will completely rid the government of all espionage, adding that the technology will be implemented in November.

The new homegrown security technology will host all traffic on its servers and use only state-owned cable networks, with no participation of foreign companies or networks.

The move came after documents leaked by former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden showed the U.S. and Canadian governments had spied on Brazilian officials and companies.

The documents also revealed the two countries shared collected information with their allies as part of a global surveillance scheme purportedly set up to fight terrorism.

Spy targets included Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's official communications, the Mines and Energy Ministry and state oil and gas giant Petrobras.

The Brazilian government is updating its security on all fronts and also plans to develop a secure e-mail system for private citizens.