cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/49815844

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Sir Keir Starmer and his entire team are taking “burner” phones and laptops to China in an attempt to stop their hosts from spying on them.

The Times understands that dozens of disposable devices have been issued to the government delegation tasked with building bridges with Beijing this week.

New mobile phones, temporary Sim cards and throwaway laptops are being issued to the prime minister, attachés, special advisers, the No 10 policy team and digital media staffers before they departed on Tuesday night.

Sources suggested that no government equipment at all will be taken to the country over concerns about Chinese Communist Party snooping. Starmer and other officials have also been told not to bring any personal devices, in case they are compromised.

[…]

Government sources said officials were given iPhones that were barcoded and marked with red “security” stickers. Staff were instructed to return the phones immediately to security personnel on their return to the UK. They were advised to avoid charging devices with USB sockets, regarded as a potential route for digital attacks, and told to use only conventional plugs.

The China trip was understood to have been contingent on the approval of the mega-embassy. Ministers gave the go-ahead on Tuesday after more than a year of deliberations.

[…]