The United States House of Representatives has barred the use of WhatsApp on official devices, citing serious data privacy and security risks.
In a memo to staff on Monday, the Office of Cybersecurity labelled WhatsApp ‘a high risk’ due to unclear data protection practices, lack of stored data encryption, and other potential vulnerabilities.
Officials recommended safer alternatives such as Microsoft Teams, Apple’s iMessage and FaceTime, Signal, and Amazon’s Wickr.
In response, Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, strongly opposed the move.
‘We disagree with this decision in the strongest possible terms.
‘WhatsApp provides a higher level of security than the other approved appss’, a Meta spokesperson said.
The ban followed earlier restrictions on other apps, including TikTok, which was removed from government devices in 2022.
The decision comes months after WhatsApp confirmed that Israeli spyware firm Paragon Solutions had targeted some of its users, including journalists and civil society actors.
