💥 Whopper scoop from @andybounds.bsky.social: Brussels is issuing burner phones & basic laptops to commissioners & senior officials travelling to the US for IMF/World Bank spring meetings next week to avoid risk of espionage — a measure traditionally reserved for China. www.ft.com/content/20d0... - ThreadSky

henryjfoy.ft.com • 1 day ago

💥 Whopper scoop from @andybounds.bsky.social:

Brussels is issuing burner phones & basic laptops to commissioners & senior officials travelling to the US for IMF/World Bank spring meetings next week to avoid risk of espionage — a measure traditionally reserved for China.

https://www.ft.com/content/20d0678a-41b2-468d-ac10-14ce1eae357b

Comments

alanrew.bsky.social•1 day ago

Not just espionage. US immigration look at contents of social media on devices for anything criticising Trump.

mggaviles.bsky.social•1 day ago

EU officials travelling to the US are most likely using diplomatic passports and enjoy personal immunity, meaning that their property won’t be searched.

alanrew.bsky.social•1 day ago

I hope that convention continues.

But I wouldn't discount the possibility of the Trump regime breaking it.

philroyceman.bsky.social•1 day ago

Somebody has not smelt the coffee yet.

tuchler.bsky.social•18 hours ago

yeah because everything is completely normal right now and there's no deviation in protocol at all. you're right

myblueskies.bsky.social•1 day ago

When has the trump regime honoured diplomatic rules, U.S. laws or even the U.S. constitution?

jw-here.bsky.social•1 day ago

the American regime does not seem to respect US laws so would be naive to assume they will respect conventions or laws devised by people who are not thier support base.

petmom.bsky.social•1 day ago

That wouldn’t stop some toxic masculine customs/border agents who feel empowered.

jrgiguere.bsky.social•1 day ago

Not all personnel have diplomatic passports. One gf was a high ranking professionnal at the UN and didn't have one.

mggaviles.bsky.social•1 day ago

EU issues a “laissez-passer” document to its officials that is equivalent to a diplomatic passport and is recognised by the U.S. as entitling its holder to a A-1 or A-2 diplomatic visa.

keith1275.bsky.social•1 day ago

I'm aware of someone working for EU Commission who has been prohibited to take their laptop to UK.

quietjulia.bsky.social•1 day ago

I wouldn't trust the US if I had to travel there either. I would either take a burner with me or make a backup and reset my phone, and then restore it when I returned.

annetteg.bsky.social•1 day ago

There's a part of me that says what is America coming to then another part of me reminds me that America has always been like this - Mcarthy era.

dkxkee.bsky.social•1 day ago

They are right not to trust our flaming shitbag of a government.

b4rilla1.bsky.social•1 day ago

Well! Here we are😑

mapschen.bsky.social•1 day ago

I would do the same if traveling to the US. US customs and migration can disappear with your electonic devises in a back room and do whatever they please with it. Old nokia phone can not be infected

jackdawg52.bsky.social•1 day ago

Smart move.

halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social•1 day ago

What with the Greenland situation, there's presumably an assumption America will take a more direct root. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57302806

christianjongeneel.nl•1 day ago

Where's your real phone?
What are you hiding?
What are you planning to do in our country?
Please follow us, sir
Your flight to El Salvador departs in twenty minutes

nycnewsfeed.bsky.social•1 day ago

I wouldn’t recommend anyone (including citizens) go through US customs with their personal phone. The DOJ has argued it can disappear people to foreign torture prisons without due process at which point US Courts will have no jurisdiction. This is argument is NOT specific to non-citizens.

bust3d00.bsky.social•1 day ago

And so their own phones can't be seized and used as evidence... As if evidence is still needed

wolfen25.bsky.social•1 day ago

☹️

justanothermaleusr.bsky.social•1 day ago

Very wise decision. Very wise.

thomasthefrench.bsky.social•1 day ago

Same at my work now. Even for personal phones we are looking for empty phones

naturalwanderer.bsky.social•1 day ago

So this is where the world is at with America now

fellaneil.bsky.social•1 day ago

The days of US cooperation are over. We must now treat the US as our enemy.

suew.bsky.social•1 day ago

Agreed.

gpollara.bsky.social•1 day ago

wow - how does this relate to what US officials do when travelling abroad, including to EU. I wonder if this is actually just standard practice

souptomatosoup.uk•1 day ago

Generally speaking this isn't normal practice unless going to an authoritarian country, such as China, or previously Russia (Previously because officials don't visit now)

zaxie.bsky.social•1 day ago

I am glad they are protecting their interests. No international governmental events should be held in the US. Not only is their information in danger, so are representatives. The US must be shunned on the world stage; It is a danger to humanity and gets more dangerous every day. Thanks SCOTUS!