In a number of attempts, RTL News managed to guess the pin code of the secret consultation, because five of the six digits of the pin code were visible in the photo.
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“You know that you are participating in a secret meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council?”, Asked High Representative Josep Borrell when RTL News journalist Daniël Verlaan switched on his camera and microphone.
The meeting was subsequently stopped because the confidential nature could no longer be guaranteed.
Confidential
After logging in with the correct pin code, there was no extra security, RTL News was immediately admitted to the meeting and Verlaan has identified himself as a journalist. “I am a journalist from the Netherlands”, he responds to Borrell’s question. “I’m sorry to disturb your meeting, I’ll leave the meeting now.”
He then left the meeting.
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“This is the Foreign Affairs Council, where all ministers from EU member states meet. In this case it was the defense ministers of the 27 countries,” said political reporter Fons Lambie.
“In that meeting no other strictly state secret matters are discussed. Reports of what is discussed there go to 27 member states and to a lot of diplomats and officials. But the meeting is confidential. You bet that an intelligence service from a country outside Europe, for example. Russia or China, would love to listen to these kinds of meetings. “
Wrong
“An employee accidentally tweeted a photo with part of the pin code”, a Defense spokesperson told RTL Nieuws. “The photo was then deleted. A stupid mistake. This shows how careful you should be careful when sending a picture of a meeting.”
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“This shows how careful you have to be with these kinds of meetings”, Prime Minister Mark Rutte responds. “A meeting of the Ministers of Defense is never innocent. Caution is advised. The only by-product of this is that Bijleveld has pointed out to other ministers how careful you have to be.”
RTL News has been tipped for this story by a tipster who wishes to remain anonymous.
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