Amid growing concerns over surveillance in certain parts of Europe, Members of the European Parliament were provided with protective anti-spying pouches to secure their digital devices during a three-day mission to Hungary.
The initiative underscores mounting apprehension surrounding espionage threats, with anti-spying precautions in Hungary becoming a topic of heightened relevance.
The visit, conducted by five lawmakers from the European Parliament’s civil liberties committee, began on Monday and aimed to assess the state of democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights in Hungary, an EU member under increasing scrutiny.
One of the participants confirmed to POLITICO that Parliament services issued Faraday bags to members of the delegation.
These metal-lined pouches are designed to block electromagnetic signals, preventing hacking, tracking, or any unauthorised access. Lawmakers were also advised to avoid public Wi-Fi networks and charging stations.
Hungary has frequently drawn criticism for its surveillance practices. In 2023, the European Parliament’s PEGA committee launched a fact-finding mission following allegations that spyware had been deployed against journalists, political opponents, and civil society actors.
Further controversy arose from reports by Belgian and Hungarian outlets suggesting that Hungary’s intelligence agency had surveilled EU officials between 2015 and 2017 — even going so far as to search hotel rooms and intercept phone conversations. These allegations were strongly denied by the Hungarian government.
Relations between Brussels and Budapest have been strained for years, primarily over claims that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government has undermined democratic principles and institutional checks. The EU invoked Article 7 proceedings against Hungary in 2018 due to persistent rule-of-law issues.
This week’s visiting delegation is led by Dutch Green MEP Tineke Strik and includes:
- Sophie Wilmès (Belgian Liberal)
- Pernando Barrena Arza (Spanish Left-Wing)
- Krzysztof Śmiszek (Polish Social Democrat)
- Michał Wawrykiewicz (Polish Centre-Right)
Faraday bags are typically employed to safeguard digital devices from surveillance and interference. According to two officials familiar with the European Parliament’s internal protocols, this level of protection is not standard procedure for such missions, suggesting a heightened level of concern specific to this visit.
In fact, the European Commission had already invited tenders for such pouches back in 2018, further indicating institutional awareness of potential espionage risks.
The issue of digital security during official EU missions has also surfaced in other contexts. A recent Financial Times report revealed that some Commission officials heading to the United States were equipped with burner phones and basic laptops to mitigate espionage risks.
However, the European Commission issued a statement on Tuesday clarifying that it does not formally advise staff to use burner phones on trips to the U.S., though such devices may be supplied during missions involving highly confidential matters.
Such protocols are more commonplace when visiting countries like China, where state-sponsored espionage is considered a higher risk.
For the Hungary visit, no burner phones or minimal-function laptops were proactively distributed to the delegation. When questioned about the availability of such devices, the European Parliament’s spokesperson service declined to comment on specifics.
“All the necessary assessments are in place to ensure the development of committee fact-finding missions while ensuring [the] Parliament’s duty of care for [elected] members and staff,” a press officer stated.
Lawmakers are “periodically briefed” on security and cybersecurity protocols, and “supporting materials in this regard are also made available to MEPs,” the spokesperson added.
