Team USA is warning athletes ahead of next month’s Winter Olympics in Beijing, China to leave their normal cell phones at home and instead “use burner phones as a precaution against possible surveillance”:
Team USA advises athletes going to the Beijing Olympics to use burner phones as a precaution against possible surveillance https://t.co/jxanqT4FQp
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) January 14, 2022
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo endorsed the step, tweeting “when my team & I traveled to China, we left our phones at home. Smart of Team USA to do the same, but it is only a step to mitigating risk. Our athletes’ safety is still in jeopardy”:
As Sec. of State, when my team & I traveled to China, we left our phones at home. Smart of Team USA to do the same, but it is only a step to mitigating risk. Our athletes’ safety is still in jeopardy.
— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) January 14, 2022
Shouldn’t this be bigger news though?
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A story that is not being talked about enough leading up to the Beijing Olympic Games is data privacy. A number of national olympic committees have recommended that their athletes utilize new phones at the Games to prevent surveillance.
— Alicia Jessop (@RulingSports) January 14, 2022
And it’s not just the Americans telling athletes to do this:
This comes shortly after a @volkskrant report showing that Dutch athletes have been told to leave phones and laptops at home to avoid Chinese espionage.https://t.co/fXFFJEacFU
— Uyghur Human Rights Project (@UyghurProject) January 14, 2022
Journos, too, are being urged to take precautions to maintain their “digital security”:
Are you a journalist planning to cover #Beijing2022?
CPJ’s safety advisory for those attending addresses coronavirus restrictions and digital security.https://t.co/iZvDpSc42V
— Committee to Protect Journalists (@pressfreedom) January 11, 2022
From CPJ:
Top digital security tips for journalists at the Beijing Olympics
Leave your devices home. Wipe an old phone and laptop or purchase new ones for the trip.
In case of restrictions, ask journalists in China which apps and VPNs work for them.
Create a new work email specifically for the trip.
Assume your hotel room is under surveillance.
Keep your devices with you and avoid leaving them unattended.
Wipe all devices on your return.
Welp. It’s a good thing we’re *rewarding* China for this behavior. Just cancel the games already.
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