US House Bans WhatsApp on Government Devices, Citing Security Risks

The U.S. House of Representatives has banned WhatsApp on all government-issued devices due to internal cybersecurity concerns, following similar restrictions on other apps. The House Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) classified the Meta-owned platform as a “high-risk” application. This determination is based on WhatsApp’s data handling practices and transparency. The CAO’s cybersecurity team found issues with WhatsApp’s data protection clarity and encryption policies, potentially jeopardizing user security. As a result, all WhatsApp versions are blocked on official House devices, with staff members prohibited from using the app on their official devices. Meta has strongly opposed the decision. Andy Stone, Meta’s Communications Director, expressed strong disagreement with the House’s assessment, highlighting the app’s end-to-end encryption. Stone pointed out that WhatsApp’s security is superior to most apps approved by the CAO. Meta intends to work with the House to enable its members to use WhatsApp officially. The CAO suggested alternatives such as Microsoft Teams, Signal, Apple’s iMessage and FaceTime, and Amazon’s Wickr. This action aligns with the U.S. government’s strategy to limit apps considered privacy risks or that raise concerns regarding foreign ownership and data handling. The ban occurs around the time Meta revealed plans to introduce ads on WhatsApp, although the company has stated that user privacy will remain protected.