UK Government bans iPads from Cabinet meetings over surveillance fears
The UK Government has banned iPads from its Cabinet meetings over fears that the devices could be used as bugs in the confidential meetings.
Downing St security seizing Ministers' iPads
The Telegraph has reported that Cabinet ministers have been issued with “soundproof lead-lined boxes, which they must place their mobiles in when having sensitive conversations”.
Foreign Secretary William Hague has admitted that his mobile phone has been ”modified” by intelligence service GCHQ to “prevent foreign powers bugging it.”
He said: “I think my phone has been modified by GCHQ enough that it'd be difficult, but I'm sure the Chinese have had a good go."
The UK’s Mail on Sunday reported that Cabinet Minister Francis Maude’s iPad was seized by security staff at 10 Downing Street “to prevent Cabinet discussions being picked up”.
“It is feared China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan have developed the ability to turn mobiles into microphones and turn them into transmitters even when they are turned off, using a Trojan computer virus,” the Telegraph reported.
The news comes as it was reported that gift bags given to leaders at the G20 summit in St Petersburg contained bugging devices.
10 Downing Street image via Shutterstock