British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks to a TV reporter during his visit to Clacton-on-Sea on October 18, 2023, in Clacton-on-Sea, United Kingdom.
A recent security breach leaked UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's long-time personal cellphone number, raising fears about prominent UK politicians' digital security. Pranksters on social media posted audio of Sunak's phone ringing and the Prime Minister's message in response.
Similar security concerns forced former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to change his cellphone number two and a half years earlier.
The incident of UK PM Rishi Sunak's personal number leakage was verified by The Sun. The publication reported that the number released is the same one that Rishi Sunak has been using for many years, including during his time as Chancellor and the course of last year's leadership contest. Despite reports that Sunak was given a new contact number when he took office a year ago, it seems from the released footage that Rishi Sunak's leaked old number is still in use.
Digital Security of Top Government Leaders Pushed
Discussions on the necessity for stronger digital security measures for prominent lawmakers have been rekindled in light of the security incident. Former UK national security advisor Lord Ricketts stressed the need to strengthen the digital security of leading politicians at the time of a similar occurrence with Boris Johnson. He emphasized the dangers associated with illegal access to phone calls that might include delicate, important, or diplomatic information.
Lord Ricketts underlined the need for limited and supervised access to safeguard top politicians like UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, saying that they should not be accessible to everyone who previously had their phone number.
The security expert noted that strict monitoring and control are among the "inconveniences of being prime minister," but they are essential for their own benefit and security, per The Independent.
The incident of UK Prime Minister's Rishi Sunak's personal number leak also made people aware of previous difficulties he had in supplying specific WhatsApp chats to the UK COVID probe. He said that since he had not backed them up after multiple phone swaps, he was unable to submit these texts that were sent to and from the disputed number.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declined to provide any details in response to questions about the matter at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, citing the continuing legal proceedings of the COVID probe. He emphasized his participation in the probe, emphasizing the significance of COVID-19 teachings.
History Repeating Itself
To protect national security, Number 10 Downing Street refuses to comment on the leak. This most recent security breach serves as a reminder of the digital difficulties and privacy issues that top public leaders and elected authorities now confront.
In 2021, a contact number for Boris Johnson was revealed at the end of a press release during his time as a shadow minister for higher education in 2006, The National Post reported. Anyone who does an internet search might easily find the UK politician's phone number at that time.
The former UK Prime Minister's office number at the House of Commons and his cell phone were listed as ways to get in touch with him, and the press release urged journalists to do so. Multiple concerns were raised about Johnson's contact number's exposure and security hazards.
In a separate update, PM Rishi Sunak posted the UK's stand on the ongoing Israel-Hamas War on X (formerly Twitter). He stated that the United Kingdom "will strain every sinew to support a return to peace and stability in the Middle East."
Britain stands together to reject terror, hate and prejudice - at home and abroad.
We will strain every sinew to support a return to peace and stability in the Middle East.
My @Telegraph article today
- Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 22, 2023
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