EU provides burner phones to officials traveling to US amid espionage concerns

[Shawn Knight]

In a nutshell: The European Commission is supplying staffers bound for the US on official business with burner phones and basic laptops. The security measure, which is common practice for staff members visiting regions like Russia or China where electronic surveillance is anticipated, is meant to thwart espionage attempts.

An EU official told the Financial Times, "The transatlantic alliance is over."

According to The Register, officials from the European Union are set to visit Washington DC next week to participate in spring meetings held by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. Should nothing change between now and then, they will likely be the first to operate under the new policy.

Additionally, staffers are encouraged to power off their phones at the border and store them in special sleeves that protect against surveillance tactics if left unattended. If it were me, I would simply leave any personal phones, tablets, or computers at home in this situation.

The White House and the US National Security Council did not comment when asked about the situation. The European Commission confirmed that its security recommendations had been updated, but didn't reveal the specifics of the latest policy.

Luuk van Middelaar, director of the Brussels Institute for Geopolitics, said the new security measures are not surprising. "Washington is not Beijing or Moscow, but it is an adversary that is prone to use extra-legal methods to further its interests and power," van Middelaar told the publication.

According to van Middelaar, it is not anything new or party-related. "Democractic administrations use the same tactics," he said, referring to a 2013 incident in which the US – under the Obama administration – was accused of spying on the phone of German chancellor Angela Merkel.

As India Today highlights, border staff in the US have the right to search mobile devices of visitors coming into the country and can even seize them. Some have even reportedly been denied entry into the US after checks of their social media profiles turned up critical posts of the Trump administration.

Tension between the US and the European Union has been high ever since Trump retook office back in January.

Image credit: Curated Lifestyle, Alexandre Lallemand

Permalink to story:

EU provides burner phones to officials traveling to US amid espionage concerns

 

[DrSuess]

Funny, my company provides burner laptops and phones when we travel to Europe (or anywhere else) and has been following that practice for at least 20 years.

 

[candle86]

Well the EU says the alliance is over, sounds good, time to bring every single America Solider, Plane, Tank, Drone, bullet, shell, bomb, missile, ship, sub, artillery, truck, Humvee, AA system, and anything I missed back to the US, let Europe figure it out since the Alliance is over, I'm sure they can protect themselves from Russia with their incompetent militaries

 

[dirtyferret]

Well the EU says the alliance is over, sounds good, time to bring every single America Solider, Plane, Tank, Drone, bullet, shell, bomb, missile, ship, sub, artillery, truck, Humvee, AA system, and anything I missed back to the US, let Europe figure it out since the Alliance is over, I'm sure they can protect themselves from Russia with their incompetent militaries

I would not call Europe's military incompetent but scaling back would make sense but...the republicans would never go for it. Two out of every three dollars the pentagon spends goes to defense contractors, that leaves just one dollar towards the troops. Maybe we should spend some of the defense contractor budget on healthcare, housing, and education.
Three of the biggest defense contractors
Lockheed Martin - donated $1 million towards trumps inauguration
SpaceX - run by that guy who gutted any government agency that had over site on any of his companies
Boeing - also donated $1 million to trumps inauguration and shockingly just got a contract in march worth over 20 billion from the convicted criminal.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

Well the EU says the alliance is over, sounds good, time to bring every single America Solider, Plane, Tank, Drone, bullet, shell, bomb, missile, ship, sub, artillery, truck, Humvee, AA system, and anything I missed back to the US, let Europe figure it out since the Alliance is over, I'm sure they can protect themselves from Russia with their incompetent militaries

I would not call Europe's military incompetent but scaling back makes sense but Republicans AND Democrats would never go for it.

Our military spending is equal to the next 9 countries in spending COMBINED: currently China, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Germany, France, and Japan (2023 numbers). You will notice that one of those countries is the Ukraine which we are also funding through separate spending bills beyond our normal spending.

Which is the second issue: we have been constantly at war for decades to justify another $50B/year beyond defense budgets. As soon as we got out of Afghanistan, we had to fund Ukraine, as soon as we talked about leaving that suddenly Iran needed a war. This has become a bipartisan issue because it is big big business that funnels money to it's political allies in both parties.

We could cut spending in half and still be more than China and Russia combined. I fully support bringing every single America Solider, Plane, Tank, Drone, bomb, etc. home. Why are we funding the world's defense while we sink deeper into debt? But the defense contractors and politicians won't stop raking in the money until there is significant public opposition to it and I don't see that happening any time soon.

 

[dirtyferret]

Republicans AND Democrats would never go for it.

I'm an independent so I have no team to defend. While some democrats would not go for it (politicians get bought on both sides of the isle) you would stand a much better chance with them to trade defense contracts for better healthcare, housing, education, aid to children, than the current state of the republican party.

Our military spending is equal to the next 9 countries in spending COMBINED: currently China, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Germany, France, and Japan (2023 numbers). You will notice that one of those countries is the Ukraine which we are also funding through separate spending bills beyond our normal spending.

it doesn't equal the next nine countries combine, it actually outspends those countries combined by a few billion. So it's all the countries you mentioned plus Australia (about 2/3 of Japan's spending).

 

[Marco Mint]

Well the EU says the alliance is over, sounds good, time to bring every single America Solider, Plane, Tank, Drone, bullet, shell, bomb, missile, ship, sub, artillery, truck, Humvee, AA system, and anything I missed back to the US, let Europe figure it out since the Alliance is over, I'm sure they can protect themselves from Russia with their incompetent militaries

The fact that you make that statement as if we'd be missing out on something in Europe is hilarious.
I agree, you should go. The u.s are only in Europe because it benefits the u.s, not because they were feeling charitable.
The recent u.s elections were akin to walking into a restaurant and only having the choice of a chit sandwich or puke on toast. You made your choice. Enjoy!

 

[candle86]

I'm an independent so I have no team to defend. While some democrats would not go for it (politicians get bought on both sides of the isle) you would stand a much better chance with them to trade defense contracts for better healthcare, housing, education, aid to children, than the current state of the republican party.

it doesn't equal the next nine countries combine, it actually outspends those countries combined by a few billion. So it's all the countries you mentioned plus Australia (about 2/3 of Japan's spending).

The democrats don't want to end wars, the democrats these days are the warmongers, look who is demanding we send American's into Ukraine to die. At the end of the day what we need to do is tell the planet peace, you guys do whatever you want, want to invade each other we don't care, heck open sales of American weapons to the highest bidder to keep the defense contractors happy.

The fact that you make that statement as if we'd be missing out on something in Europe is hilarious.
I agree, you should go. The u.s are only in Europe because it benefits the u.s, not because they were feeling charitable.
The recent u.s elections were akin to walking into a restaurant and only having the choice of a chit sandwich or puke on toast. You made your choice. Enjoy!

I'm fine with leaving, I don't care who is occupying Paris, it could be Russian, Chinese or French I don't really care, its your problem.

 

[BuckarooBonzaii]

Ironic how the EU regulators want back doors or access to all encrypted communications but worry about their privacy overseas. I wouldn't pass DARPA that they probably can hack into burner phones.

 

[dirtyferret]

I'm fine with leaving, I don't care who is occupying Paris

yeah turned out great in 1940 when that happened, both for Europe and the USA. Those who don't understand history are doomed to repeat it...and display their ignorance.

 

[Marco Mint]

The democrats don't want to end wars, the democrats these days are the warmongers, look who is demanding we send American's into Ukraine to die. At the end of the day what we need to do is tell the planet peace, you guys do whatever you want, want to invade each other we don't care, heck open sales of American weapons to the highest bidder to keep the defense contractors happy.



I'm fine with leaving, I don't care who is occupying Paris, it could be Russian, Chinese or French I don't really care, its your problem.

We're just fine over in Europe. The French are occupying Paris btw and have been for a while now. Don't you worry, we can look after ourselves, much as it may annoy you to know this and hope for it to be otherwise. Run along now!

 

[candle86]

yeah turned out great in 1940 when that happened, both for Europe and the USA. Those who don't understand history are doomed to repeat it...and display their ignorance.

Exactly this time we won't get involved when somebody wants to occupy Paris that was the mistake, this time around its your problem don't come crying for help.

 

[dirtyferret]

this time around its your problem don't come crying for help

ignorance is bliss
1) Nazi Germany declared war on the USA first and then the USA declared war on the Nazis (back then fascists were the bad guys in the USA) so the USA became involved regardless if we wanted to be
2) my grandfather fought in WWII fighting the Nazis, I'm guessing by your comments your family were guarding camps in Poland during this time

 

[Burty117]

What a painful comment section, American's that don't understand why they made themselves world police, and Europeans that didn't go to history lessons.

The truth is, America is making a big mistake, way too many American's are blind to what they currently have, the rest of the world should really be jumping on this, potential to un-seat the dollar as the world reserved currency? Potential for big tech companies to pop up domestically? Force countries to re-arm and build a decent defense industry?

Right now, nearly everything is American these days, Every phone I use, every computer, every website, military equipment, networking equipment etc... Basically, everything but cars, because America seems to really struggle to make a decent car.
America seems to own everything, infrastructure, housing, Businesses, if you can think of it, America seems to own a large stake in it.

If the American people want to seriously contract their own economy for seemingly no reason, yes there will be some short term pain, but governments around the world should be seeing this as a potential possibility to really grow their own economies, of course, most western governments at this point are so corrupt and lazy, they would prefer America did everything for them, which is probably the crux of the issue.

 

[Achaios]

Ridiculous.

So, Biden's Woke Trans DEI USA was an ally but now Trump's America is the devil with big red horns.

Those ppl at Brussels are clowns. They are a big clown show. No chance vs the USA. The FBI, I recall was founded in 1908. The NKVD was founded in 1934.

What they are telling the ppl of the EU is that for so long as the Trans DEI Administration of Biden was up and running, no such measures were required presumably b/c the Woke USA and the Woke EU shared the same agenda.

It's no wonder Trump got elected.

 

[kiwigraeme]

Back on topic, Many companies are not even flying to the States. Tourism to USA is tanking .
The GOP/maga are bragging about ignoring due process and law. ICE and Immigration petty tyrants are creaming themselves.
Even many Americans are not going overseas if one partner is resident or green card etc

USA will check phones for anti-trump stuff . If you protest ethnic cleansing in Gaza - you will be stripped naked and search , shackled and put in a purposely cold holding cells with no right to communicate with anyone - just hope you are deported and not sent to El Salvador to be starved , beaten and maybe killed by staff, inmates or lack of medical attention

Ie no kind sensitive person should Travel to The USA at the moment - No due process guaranteed

Yes EU/Asia/Middle East will now oversee the house of cards of USA economy - Debt at every level from Tbonds to car loans fall over - Goldman Sacks Mortgage Junk bonds will be a 2 to that scale out of 10

Your fundamentals are build on trust and a ponzi scheme - interesting times

 

[NumberNine]

I would not call Europe's military incompetent but scaling back makes sense but Republicans AND Democrats would never go for it.

Our military spending is equal to the next 9 countries in spending COMBINED: currently China, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Germany, France, and Japan (2023 numbers). You will notice that one of those countries is the Ukraine which we are also funding through separate spending bills beyond our normal spending.

Which is the second issue: we have been constantly at war for decades to justify another $50B/year beyond defense budgets. As soon as we got out of Afghanistan, we had to fund Ukraine, as soon as we talked about leaving that suddenly Iran needed a war. This has become a bipartisan issue because it is big big business that funnels money to it's political allies in both parties.

We could cut spending in half and still be more than China and Russia combined. I fully support bringing every single America Solider, Plane, Tank, Drone, bomb, etc. home. Why are we funding the world's defense while we sink deeper into debt? But the defense contractors and politicians won't stop raking in the money until there is significant public opposition to it and I don't see that happening any time soon.

War is one of Americas most profitable pursuits. The people don't need a war, but Raytheon does and here we are. Military industrial complex. A very old issue.

 

[dirtyferret]

Even many Americans are not going overseas if one partner is resident or green card etc

Heck now the orange turd wants to imprison US citizens over seas.

 

[candle86]

ignorance is bliss
1) Nazi Germany declared war on the USA first and then the USA declared war on the Nazis (back then fascists were the bad guys in the USA) so the USA became involved regardless if we wanted to be
2) my grandfather fought in WWII fighting the Nazis, I'm guessing by your comments your family were guarding camps in Poland during this time

My family fought WW2, my grand father threw away a French medal he got after France refused to fight in the war on terror.

As for your statement we were already doing destroyers for bases and lend lease aid since 1939 prior to the declaration. Without American weapons you'd be speaking German right now, and without our forces the soviet's would have invaded and you'd all be speaking Russian

 

[candle86]

Back on topic, Many companies are not even flying to the States. Tourism to USA is tanking .
The GOP/maga are bragging about ignoring due process and law. ICE and Immigration petty tyrants are creaming themselves.
Even many Americans are not going overseas if one partner is resident or green card etc

USA will check phones for anti-trump stuff . If you protest ethnic cleansing in Gaza - you will be stripped naked and search , shackled and put in a purposely cold holding cells with no right to communicate with anyone - just hope you are deported and not sent to El Salvador to be starved , beaten and maybe killed by staff, inmates or lack of medical attention

Ie no kind sensitive person should Travel to The USA at the moment - No due process guaranteed

Yes EU/Asia/Middle East will now oversee the house of cards of USA economy - Debt at every level from Tbonds to car loans fall over - Goldman Sacks Mortgage Junk bonds will be a 2 to that scale out of 10

Your fundamentals are build on trust and a ponzi scheme - interesting times

If you support terrorism like Hamas you should be removed, if your here illegally why should we waste money, Even if you went in court you're still deported because you can't legally be here.

 

[dirtyferret]

Without American weapons you'd be speaking German right now, and without our forces the soviet's would have invaded and you'd all be speaking Russian

Doesn't really make sense. Without US weapons I would be speaking German or the Soviet Union would invade. Do you think Red Dawn is a documentary?

My family fought WW2

Which side?

 

[candle86]

Doesn't really make sense. Without US weapons I would be speaking German or the Soviet Union would invade. Do you think Red Dawn is a documentary?

Which side?

I think the only reason you're wasn't overrun by the Soviets is because of American GI's and that's not my opinion that's a fact America provided the deterence that kept all of you safe. What did we get while you slept peacefully, nothing except mocking, you should be on your knees thanking America

 

[dirtyferret]

you're wasn't

yours is the possessive pronoun you wanted to use

I think the only reason you're wasn't overrun by the Soviets is because of American GI's

While we did have a cuban missile crisis, my country never really had a real threat of a soviet invasion.

you should be on your knees thanking America

Are you often on your knees thanking people? Alas I never did get to thank my grandfather, he passed from cancer before I was born.

 

[The Talking Tech]

Since Trump, no country should ever trust the U.S with their own devices...Or with anything for that matter.

 

[Xelions]

You have to take these precautions when you realise META is pawned by the Chinese. Makes you think what other US.a companies are heavily influenced by the U.S.S.R.