Copenhagen: The Danish government has instructed public officials across Denmark and Greenland to turn off Bluetooth on all professional and personal devices, citing rising fears of foreign intelligence surveillance. The directive applies to civil servants, police officers, and military personnel operating within national and territorial institutions.
Issued by Denmark’s military intelligence agency, the order highlights concerns over security vulnerabilities in wireless technology, particularly Bluetooth-enabled devices such as smartphones, laptops, and headsets. Authorities have warned that these devices could potentially be exploited for remote eavesdropping or data interception.
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Nationwide directive across departments
The Danish National Police IT department confirmed that Bluetooth must remain disabled “until Corporate IT announces otherwise.” The guidance is uniform across ministries, police units, and public offices, covering both state-issued and personally owned devices used in professional settings.
Security risks flagged by intelligence agencies
The Danish Defense Intelligence Service (Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste) identified vulnerabilities that could allow unauthorized access to nearby devices without user consent. Investigators noted that attacks could intercept data streams from previously paired devices, creating potential risks for sensitive government communications.
A specific concern involves Google’s Fast Pair feature, which simplifies Bluetooth device connections but could allow silent pairing and unauthorized access if exploited. Additionally, vulnerabilities in the Airoha Bluetooth audio SDK may permit audio devices to connect without approval, even when inactive. Experts have recommended powering off or removing all wireless audio accessories to reduce exposure.
Geopolitical context
The advisory comes amid renewed U.S. interest in Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory with strategic significance in the Arctic. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had publicly commented in late 2025 that Greenland would not be secure unless under U.S. control, reviving tensions first observed in 2019. While Denmark has not directly linked its Bluetooth directive to these remarks, the timing underscores strategic concerns over secure communications and NATO operations in the Arctic region.
Digital sovereignty and dependence on U.S. technology
The ban has also reignited debate over Europe’s reliance on U.S.-made technology. While Denmark did not specify hardware or software vendors, security analysts have raised concerns about continued dependence on platforms developed by Apple, Google, and other non-EU companies, pointing to broader vulnerabilities in operating systems, cloud services, and APIs.
Devices critical for health and accessibility services, including hearing aids, are also subject to the directive, adding operational challenges for public health departments and service providers. Experts stress that turning off Bluetooth mitigates risk but does not fully eliminate it; comprehensive firmware audits and stricter policies for connected devices are recommended to prevent exploitation.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
