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US orders travelers on Air Force One to throw away gifts, pins, and burner phones after China trip
Officials used clean devices and restricted channels as the delegation faced heightened fears of Chinese surveillance and cyber espionage.
- On Friday, President Donald Trump and his delegation departed Beijing after two days of high-level talks, concluding a trip defined by strict 'digital lockdown' protocols to mitigate surveillance risks.
- Officials implemented these measures because China is considered a 'mass surveillance state,' with Former Secret Service special agent Bill Gage warning that 'China is a mass surveillance state. Briefings for US officials begin well before the president arrives, and they make clear that everything is monitored.'
- Apple chief executive Tim Cook and Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang accompanied the delegation, swapping personal smartphones for restricted 'clean' devices to reduce exposure to potential hacking and data extraction.
- Before boarding Air Force One on Friday, staff and reporters surrendered burner phones, credential badges, and lapel pins issued by China, which New York Post White House correspondent Emily Goodin reported were discarded in a bin at the plane's stairs.
- This 'digital blackout' illustrates how modern diplomacy now prioritizes controlled communication and in-person meetings over real-time digital access, demonstrating that international travel increasingly requires rigorous digital risk management alongside traditional security measures.
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Cybersecurity dictated every move of the US presidential trip to China. No local objects crossed the Air Force One door, symbol of total distrust of the risk of piracy.
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US orders travelers on Air Force One to throw away gifts, pins, and burner phones after China trip
While the summit appeared cordial, China remains a key adversary of the United States, given its advanced intelligence and espionage capabilities.
·United States
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The American president and his aides used... disposable phones and special security cases amid fears of Chinese surveillance and cyberattacks
Coverage Details
Total News Sources24
Leaning Left2Leaning Right9Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Right
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources lean Right
64% Right
14%
C 22%
R 64%
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