Antwerp prosecutors have launched an investigation after VRT’s “Factcheckers” programme placed USB sticks in several hospitals and police stations. After the first sticks were discovered Belgium’s national crisis centre issued a warning to all local police services. OCAD, the government organisation that analyses the threat level, was asked to look into the matter.
The discovery of seven USB sticks at an Antwerp courthouse triggered the alert. Employees didn’t know where the sticks had come from and several security measures were initiated. Police feared malicious intent and an attempt to infiltrate government systems. Antwerp prosecutors warned against possible hacking.
After it emerged that the same USB sticks had been discovered across several police zones the government’s crisis centre asked local police to be vigilant. Several Belgian security services were involved in the alert. The crisis centre says the discovery of the sticks had a significant impact.
Later it emerged that there was no question of a cyberattack, but rather an attempt by the VRT programme to heighten public awareness.
Public prosecutors are not impressed by the VRT’s efforts. “It’s totally unacceptable” says Kristof Aerts of Antwerp prosecutors. "Police and prosecutors should have been informed beforehand. A lot of panic could have been prevented”.
At Leuven University hospital managers even considered closing down their IT network after somebody was seen on CCTV footage leaving the sticks at the hospital.
Flemish public broadcaster VRT later defended the programme makers' actions saying the actions were ones with social relevance and that no announcement could have been made beforehand because that would have cancelled out the impact.