Prime Minister Dick Schoof has increased security measures for cabinet members. Cabinet members are no longer allowed to bring phones, smartwatches, laptops or other smart electronics to the council of ministers and other official consultations, such as the vice council and budget council, since taking office. So reports the AD.
The measure was instituted for cyber security reasons. The reason for the measure is not known, but the AD reports that an anonymous senior source in the cabinet indicated that Schoof's past as director of the AIVD and as National Coordinator for Terrorism and Security contributed to his awareness of espionage risks.
The intelligence services AIVD and MIVD have long warned about the risk of espionage. For example, according to the AIVD's annual report, Russian intelligence services are reportedly trying to gain access to the systems of defense suppliers, and China is interested in Dutch trade secrets.
Attendees at official Cabinet meetings must now put their electronics in a special locker cabinet just outside the meeting room. Each cabinet member has his or her own locker. Even wireless earplugs may not be brought.
Cybersecurity expert Ronald Prins, who specializes in securing state secrets, thinks it is a sensible measure. Speaking to the AD, he said, "If the ministers' devices are hacked, you can remotely open a microphone like this and listen in on what is being discussed. It makes all other security measures a bit ridiculous if you don't regulate this properly."
With former Prime Minister Mark Rutte, electronics were allowed during most meetings. Only at meetings on certain topics, such as security, did electronics have to remain outside the meeting room.
Cabinet members are reacting positively to the change for now. Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp indicates that this measure should have been taken much earlier. Deputy Prime Minister Mona Keijzer also sees the positive side of it: "We just need to kick the habit. Good for concentration!"
The measure is not an isolated one. Earlier, the government banned government officials from using TikTok. Other Chinese and Russian apps have also been banned. For example, the City of Amsterdam banned the originally Russian app Telegram from its civil servants.
These measures were taken because of the risk of the Chinese and Russian governments having access to the private data these apps collect.
