(Reuters) -BlackRock has asked its staff visiting China for business trips to use temporary loaner phones and avoid using company laptops, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing an internal memo.
The world’s largest asset manager told its staff that using company-issued employee devices, including iPhones and iPads, is not permitted, the report said.
BlackRock also barred the use of company laptops or remote access via virtual private networks, the report said, adding that employees will not have access to the BlackRock network during personal travel in China.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. A source familiar with the matter, however, told Reuters that this is not a new policy.
The report comes as firms witness China’s growing hold over access during travel to the nation.
On Monday, the U.S. State Department said that the Chinese government had blocked an unnamed U.S. Patent and Trademark Office employee visiting the Asian country in a personal capacity from leaving.
Earlier this month, a Wells Fargo banker was also blocked from leaving China. Beijing’s foreign ministry said the banker was involved in a criminal case.
BlackRock did not respond to a request for comment.
(Reporting by Ateev Bhandari and Pretish M J in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)
