The Sochi Olympic Games begin on February 7th, but as NBC employees head to Russia for their assignments they are being warned, this isn't the United States. They should expect that the Russians will be spying on everything they do. According to the NY Daily News, NBC people have been warned, “Everything is being monitored and any little secrets or fun staffers have is at risk of being exposed.”

NBC’s Olympic staff has been warned in a memo to watch what they email and text during the games, because Russian federal law allows for “the monitoring, retention and analysis of all data that traverses Russian communication networks, including Internet browsing, email messages, telephone calls and fax transmissions.”

An NBC rep said the memo was similar to others the company distributed to employees before the 2008 games in Beijing, where communications with the outside world are closely monitored by the government.

“Standard operating procedure for us in today’s digital world is to remind employees that privacy laws around the world are different, and to act accordingly,” the rep said.

There has been great concern about the security of the Games among the competitors and press arriving in Russia. NBC is addressing the issue, and its employees are not supposed to leave secure areas without bodyguards. But in regards to email, the network is stressing that security is not just physical.

“The staff have been coached over and over about the major concerns,” our original insider says. “We have emergency numbers and have been told what to do if we see anything suspicious. Additionally, we have been advised to not leave the Olympic Village without an escort and to not bring clothing, bags or anything that identifies us as Americans.”