European Commission confirms handing out ‘burner phones’ to top officials

The European Commission acknowledges that it provides disposable phones, also known as ‘burner phones,’ to top officials when they visit countries abroad. However, it denies that this has anything to do with United States President Donald Trump’s current policies.

On Monday, the Financial Times reported that Brussels had issued new guidelines, providing members of the European Commission and senior officials with disposable phones and basic laptops to counter the risk of espionage.

One of the sources told the news outlet there were concerns about possible hacks of the IT systems of the European Commission. The Financial Times revealed that senior officials have been advised to turn off their mobile phones when crossing the border and to use protective cases to guard their devices from interference.

The Commission confirmed that the security advice had recently been updated but did not provide further details.

A spokesperson for the European Commission has confirmed to Recorded Future News that Brussels is issuing ‘burner phones’ to senior officials. However, he renounces the suggestion that this has anything to do with President Trump.

“We deny having given guidance to our staff recommending the use of burner phones while on official missions in the US. This is not mentioned in the traveling recommendation factsheets nor in any other document,” the spokesperson said.

The changes reflect how the European Commission deals with cybersecurity issues and risks. The spokesperson emphasizes that it’s been “a long-standing general practice” to provide disposable phones and equipment to top officials when they’re traveling and dealing with confidential and sensitive information.

And this has nothing to do with President Trump’s foreign policy. “There is absolutely no general practice to give burner equipment to officials traveling to the US specifically,” the spokesperson adds.