United States House of Representatives has banned the use of WhatsApp on all its devices, citing data security concerns.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Office of Cybersecurity, according to a memo sent to all House staff, has deemed WhatsApp a “high-risk” app due to its lack of transparency in protecting user data, absence of stored data encryption, and potential security risks.
The memo, issued by the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, highlights several issues with WhatsApp, including its handling of user data and potential security vulnerabilities. As a result, lawmakers and staff have been advised to uninstall WhatsApp and switch to alternative messaging platforms deemed safer.
The approved alternatives include: Microsoft Teams, Amazon’s Wickr, Signal, Apple’s iMessage and FaceTime.
A spokesperson for WhatsApp expressed disagreement with the decision, stating, “We disagree with this decision in the strongest possible terms.” The spokesperson argued that WhatsApp offers stronger security features than many of the approved alternatives.
The ban comes after WhatsApp disclosed in January that Israeli spyware firm Paragon Solutions had targeted several of its users, including journalists and civil society members.
This is not the first time the US government has taken action against a popular app due to security concerns. In 2022, TikTok was banned from government devices due to similar concerns about data privacy and national security.
