The European Commission has begun issuing disposable gadgets to employees to protect against US espionage
The European Commission, fearing espionage by the United States, has begun providing its staff traveling to or working in the United States with disposable phones and basic laptops. About this informs Financial Times.
“They (in the European Commission) are concerned that the US can infiltrate the commission’s systems,” — noted one of the officials familiar with the situation.
New security instructions have recently been issued for European Commission members and senior officials attending the spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank next week. These measures are similar to those in place when traveling to China or Ukraine, where the use of personal electronic devices is prohibited due to the risk of surveillance by Russian or Chinese intelligence services.
The growing wariness of the United States among European officials reflects a marked cooling in relations between Brussels and Washington since Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January.
The European Commission confirmed the review of security protocols, but did not provide details. The representatives noted that the EU foreign policy service was also involved in the development of new instructions, as is usually the case in similar situations.
The new rules for travel to the US include specific instructions for employees, including turning off phones at the border and storing them in special protective cases to prevent unauthorized access if unattended. Of particular concern is the American practice that allows border services to seize personal devices — phones and laptops — and inspect their contents without the owner’s permission.
These measures are implemented against the background of negotiations between Brussels and Washington on a number of strategic topics in which both sides may be interested in receiving confidential information.
