Overview

• The European Commission has issued burner phones and basic laptops to officials traveling to the U.S. to protect against potential espionage risks.
• These security measures, typically reserved for high-risk countries like China and Ukraine, reflect unprecedented concerns about U.S. digital surveillance.
• The updated protocols include instructions to turn off devices and store them in special protective sleeves when crossing U.S. borders.
• The move follows escalating tensions after President Trump imposed tariffs on Europe and amid fears of U.S. infiltration of European Commission systems.
• EU officials, including Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, are preparing for critical meetings in Washington, D.C., under these stringent security measures, with some suggesting the transatlantic alliance is effectively over.