Politico: European Parliament lawmakers to use burner phones during China visit

European Parliament lawmakers traveling to China next week have been instructed to leave personal devices at home and carry burner phones, two members of the delegation told POLITICO.

Nine Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are scheduled to visit Beijing and Shanghai from March 30 to April 2. The trip, which will focus on digital affairs and e-commerce rules, is the first parliamentary delegation to travel to China in eight years, the committee said.

Concerns over Chinese cyberespionage have increased in recent years, with authorities uncovering numerous attacks by Chinese state-backed hacking groups targeting European governments and the private sector.

A European Parliament spokesperson said that “all necessary preventive and reactive measures are in place to ensure the security and safety of MEPs and [European Parliament] staff during official missions." They added that both lawmakers and officials have been given “briefings, training and assistance regarding security.”

The European Parliament has previously used burner phones and security pouches to protect devices on official trips, including a visit to Hungary last year, POLITICO reported.

Other European Union institutions have also strengthened protections against cyberespionage. A senior official, speaking anonymously to POLITICO, said the Council of the EU has guidelines stating that "no electronics are taken to the U.S. or China ... When this is not possible, the electronics that are brought back must be wiped."

Commission officials traveling to the United States have likewise been issued burner phones and basic laptops to reduce espionage risks, the Financial Times reported last year.

By Sabina Mammadli