Officials Warn Olympic Visitors' Data Could Be At Risk In Beijing
National security agencies are “warning business and federal officials that laptops and e-mail devices taken to the Beijing Olympics are likely to be penetrated by Chinese agents aiming to steal secrets or plant bugs to infiltrate U.S. computer networks,” according to Peter Eisler of USA TODAY. U.S.-China Economic & Security Review Commission Chair Larry Wortzel: “There is a high likelihood -- virtually 100[%] -- that if an individual is of security, political or business interest to Chinese … security services or high technology industries, their electronics can and will be tampered with or penetrated.” China’s embassy did not respond to request for comment but “usually dismisses espionage charges.” Last year, the office of the Dir of National Intelligence reported China’s espionage services are “among the most aggressive in collecting against sensitive and protected U.S. targets.” U.S. Rep. Mike Rodgers (R-MI) and others briefed on the threat suggested that Olympic visitors “purge sensitive information on laptops and e-mail devices, or leave their regular equipment at home and carry ‘clean’ surrogates” (USA TODAY, 6/11).
BROKEN PROMISE: With BOCOG issuing a list of restrictions for int’l visitors during the Beijing Olympics, a N.Y. TIMES editorial states, “We respect the goal of trying to put aside divisions while celebrating a common humanity. But Beijing is using those restrictions for its own authoritarian ends. To win the right to host the Games, China promised to improve its human-rights record. It keeps moving mostly in the opposite direction. … There’s an inherent contradiction between China’s desire to invite the world to the Olympics and its effort to deny those visitors -- and its own people -- the most basic freedoms.” The IOC and Western governments “need to remind Beijing that the world is watching, and so far the picture isn’t good” (N.Y. TIMES, 6/11).
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NBC's "Today" Looks At Ways
Fans Can Travel To Beijing Olympics |
TRAVEL TIPS: Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor for NBC’s “Today,” yesterday discussed ways fans could travel to the Beijing Games. Greenberg: “Everybody thinks they’re going to get shut out of the Olympics because the airfares are so high. We actually found one airfare on Continental from Newark to Beijing on their non-stop in coach for $11,000. Now, if you go one day ahead of that or one day behind it, it drops down to $1,800. If you look carefully you will find better deals.” Greenberg said Olympic cities “always overbuild hotel rooms” so there will be a “lot of inventory out there.” Greenberg added, “They’re making life a little bit difficult right now (to obtain a travel visa) so make sure you do it early” (“Today,” NBC, 6/10).
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