The security minister has issued a warning to MPs to improve their mobile phone security amid reports of hacking.
Tom Tugendhat issued the blunt assessment following advice given to the House of Commons by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, providing advice from the government's National Cyber Security Centre. Sir Lindsay stressed that one MP being irresponsible with their phone's security could impede the privacy of their colleagues.
Writing to MPS, Sir Lindsay said: "If hackers have switched on the microphone on one phone, everyone in the room might be overheard". It comes after reports revealed that former Prime Minister Liz Truss was subject to her personal phone being hacked by agents suspected of working for the Kremlin while she was acting as foreign secretary.
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Sir Lindsay said: "As recent events have highlighted, hostile states continue to target Parliamentarians to gain insight into, or exert influence over, our democratic processes for their economic, military or political advantage.”
He added: “Our phones contain so much information: our messages, emails, contacts, photos and social media posts – including private, sensitive, personal, historic and sometimes even deleted data.
“They go almost everywhere with us, and have cameras and sensitive microphones built in, making them a potential goldmine for hostile states (as well as criminals and fraudsters) who wish to obtain sensitive information about Parliament and parliamentarians.”
In response to the growing concerns, Mr Tugendhat is now leading a Westminster taskforce to address the threat to national security and Britain's institutions. He noted that "our democracy is under attack" and that Sir Lindsay "is right to warn all MPs".
He added: "That's I’m leading a new taskforce to bring together different groups that can protect our core sovereignty – the right to choose who leads us."
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