DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

9 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Businesses warned to take ’empty phones and laptops’ on China trade mission

April 9, 2018
Photo: Depositphotos.com
Photo: Depositphotos.com

The foreign affairs ministry has advised travellers to China to take ’empty’ laptops and mobile phones with them to avoid their data being compromised by the government.

The advice was contained in a letter circulated to 165 businesses and knowledge institutions accompanying prime minister Mark Rutte on a trade mission this week.

The letter says: ‘The Chinese government will want to know everything about you and your business or organisation. You should presume that all computers and phones that enter China are constantly being monitored to obtain this information.’

Sources told the Volkskrant that the cabinet is taking similar precautions for trips to Russia, Iran and Turkey. The last is particularly sensitive because the country is a Nato ally.

The security services have developed a special ‘anti-smart phone’ for government officials on business in these countries, which has extra security features and restricted internet access to prevent hacking. Sensitive documents are not transported digitally but printed out in advance and carried in a briefcase.

Two weeks ago foreign affairs minister Stef Blok warned that the Netherlands risked falling behind in the so-called cyber war between eastern and western nations in a report that named Russia and China as the biggest threats. He said the country ‘faced wide-ranging forms of digital attacks aimed at political and economic espionage and cybercrime.’

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Economy Politics
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Dutch minister hails European parliament vote on wolf protection
Five young adults in NL "nearly died" through vaping: RTL
Student room rents rise 6.2%, with Amsterdam nearing €1,000
Don't say it with toxic flowers on Mother's Day, campaigners say
Sharks and rays found living around Dutch wind farms
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now