The Netherlands - The foreign affairs ministry has advised travelers to China to take ’empty’ laptops and mobile phones with them to avoid their data being compromised by the government. The advice was contained in a letter circulated to 165 businesses and knowledge institutions accompanying prime minister Mark Rutte on a trade mission this week.
The letter says: ‘The Chinese government will want to know everything about you and your business or organisation. You should presume that all computers and phones that enter China are constantly being monitored to obtain this information.’
Sources told the Volkskrant that the cabinet is taking similar precautions for trips to Russia, Iran and Turkey. The last is particularly sensitive because the country is a NATO ally. more
