The Federal Bureau of Investigation has advised US athletes to use burner phones (temporary phones) and leave their cell phones at home during the Winter Olympics 2022 in China. Thereby, citing a potential threat of “malicious” cyber activity.
The Olympic Games Beijing 2022 have been racked by controversy. They are set to take place from February 4 to February 20.
The agency said, “The FBI urges all athletes to keep their personal cell phones at home and use a temporary phone while at the games.”
“The National Olympic Committees in some Western countries are also advising their athletes to leave personal devices at home or use temporary phones due to cybersecurity concerns at the Games,” the notice added.
Malicious cyber actors might disrupt the Winter Olympics: FBI
The FBI has warned that malicious cyber actors might disrupt the Winter Olympics and Paralympics by engaging in a variety of cyber activities.
Ransomware and denial-of-service assaults are examples of such activities. The agency issued a warning about the possibility of malware and data theft. There’s also the chance of “tracking tools” installed on mobile devices.
The warning comes as some Western governments have accused China of committing “egregious” human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region.
After accusing China of widespread detention, torture, forced labor, and genocide in Xinjiang, the US imposed diplomatic sanctions.
Diplomatic Boycott
The United States announced a diplomatic boycott. Therefore, other countries, including Australia, the UK, Canada, have stated that they will not send government personnel to the Games.
Human rights advocates have also claimed that Beijing is silencing critics at home ahead of the Winter Olympics. They are using arbitrary methods like refusing to allow activists to leave their homes and placing them in jail.
The move aims to prevent any protests, criticism, or condemnation of China related to human rights violations or other issues.
China’s current coronavirus outbreak and the safety of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai were also hot topics.