Pentagon seizes phone of Reuters reporter

The Pentagon seized Reuters reporter Idrees Ali‘s phone and would not allow him to use his electronics while traveling with the Defense Department’s No. 2 official on Sunday, reports Lara Seligman of Politico.

Seligman reports, “Ali was given his phone back upon landing after an eight-hour flight. The deputy, Kathleen Hicks, is traveling to Norway, the United Kingdom and Germany to meet with senior military and government leaders, including the heads of U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command.

“Reporters of many nationalities — typically those in the Pentagon press pool who have a Pentagon badge and have undergone a background check — routinely accompany top defense officials on official travel. They often travel to secure locations and have access to classified information. Officials frequently brief reporters on and off the record during the flights, and reporters typically file stories from the planes using their devices.

“‘We have expressed our concern about this rule change regarding members of the press who are non-U.S. citizens being able to access electronic devices during travel with the U.S. Department of Defense and are seeking further information on the issue,’ a Reuters spokesperson told POLITICO.”

Read more here.