Dutch PM Bans Phones from Cabinet Meetings to Thwart Espionage

The new Dutch prime minister has banned mobile devices from weekly Cabinet meetings to reduce the risk of espionage. Former intelligence chief, now Prime Minister Dick Schoof, implemented this measure. Unlike his predecessor, Mark Rutte, Schoof's experience in intelligence influenced this decision.

The new Dutch prime minister has issued a ban on cell phones and other mobile devices during weekly Cabinet meetings to curb the threat of digital espionage.

"The threat of espionage is timeless. Electronic devices like telephones and iPads are potential eavesdropping tools, and foreign nations are interested in our decision-making process," former national intelligence head Dick Schoof stated on Friday. Under Schoof's predecessor Mark Rutte, who exited politics following a November election victory by the far-right Party for Freedom, such devices were not banned.

Schoof indicated that his past experience in the intelligence sector guided his decision. "For me, it was a completely natural measure, and all Cabinet members immediately agreed," he said.

The General Intelligence and Security Service's current head, Erik Akerboom, echoed these concerns last year, citing espionage efforts by countries like China, especially targeting the Netherlands' high-tech sector. Schoof's technocratic government, which commenced in July, is planning to release a detailed policy blueprint next month.

(With inputs from agencies.)