WhatsApp security concerns see app banned in Congress; iMessage recommended

1 week ago 1

WhatsApp security concerns see app banned in Congress; iMessage recommended | Stylized 3D WhatsApp icon

Congressional staffers working in the House of Representatives have been told that WhatsApp security risks means they must no longer use the app on government devices.

The ban was imposed by the Office of Cybersecurity, which has previously barred the use of TikTok and a number of AI apps …

Axios first reported the ban.

The Office of Cybersecurity has deemed WhatsApp a high-risk to users due to the lack of transparency in how it protects user data, absence of stored data encryption, and potential security risks involved with its use,” the CAO said in an email obtained by Axios.

“House staff are NOT allowed to download or keep the WhatsApp application on any House device, including any mobile, desktop, or web browser versions of its products.” The email added: “If you have a WhatsApp application on your House-managed device, you will be contacted to remove it.”

Instead, staffers are urged to use Microsoft Teams, Wickr, Signal, iMessage, and FaceTime.

The exact concerns leading to the ban are unclear, since chats are protected by end-to-end encryption. Meta responded by pointedly noting that WhatsApp remains approved for Senate staffers.

Andy Stone, a spokesperson for WhatsApp parent company Meta, said in a statement to Axios, “We disagree with the House Chief Administrative Officer’s characterization in the strongest possible terms.”

“We know members and their staffs regularly use WhatsApp and we look forward to ensuring members of the House can join their Senate counterparts in doing so officially,” Stone said.

TikTok is already banned, along with DeepSeek (duh!), ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot.