The location data of millions of mobile phones in Belgium, including those of senior EU officials, is available for sale online. This is evident from a study by a number of international media BNR. Experts warn of a high risk of espionage, sabotage and blackmail.
The researchers received free ‘samples’ from data traders. In this way they obtained the location data of 2.6 million telephones in Belgium. Many more people could be followed for a fee. They did not obtain telephone numbers, but they were able to use movement patterns to determine which people were behind the data points.
Blackmail-sensitive information
The researchers traced hundreds of phones in the European Parliament, the European Commission headquarters, the EU diplomatic service, the Council of the European Union and NATO headquarters. In some cases, even precise offices could be identified.
The information is specific enough to trace the routines of EU officials, cybersecurity expert Bart van den Berg of the Clingendael Institute warns BNR. He warns of the risk of “espionage, sabotage and blackmail.” For example, many phones were also traced in sensitive places such as brothels.
The researchers were able to determine the names and residence addresses of five (former) EU officials, including a high-ranking diplomat from an EU member state. Two of them anonymously confirmed that the data was correct.
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