U.S. House of Representatives bans WhatsApp from official devices

The U.S. House of Representatives has officially banned the use of WhatsApp on all government-managed devices, citing significant cybersecurity concerns. The directive, communicated in a memo to congressional staff, was issued by the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer through its Office of Cybersecurity.

The internal notice classified WhatsApp as a “high risk” application, pointing to several troubling factors, including insufficient transparency in how user data is protected, the absence of encryption for stored data, and other potential vulnerabilities that pose a threat to data security.

According to a report by Reuters, the cybersecurity office expressed particular concern over WhatsApp’s data handling practices, warning that continued use of the app on official devices could expose sensitive information to unauthorized access.

As part of the new directive, lawmakers and staff have been instructed to uninstall WhatsApp immediately and migrate to alternative communication tools deemed more secure. Approved messaging platforms now include Microsoft Teams, Amazon’s Wickr, Signal, and Apple’s iMessage and FaceTime.

In response, a WhatsApp spokesperson said, “We disagree with this decision in the strongest possible terms,” insisting that the platform offers robust end-to-end encryption and industry-leading security features. The company defended its record, stating that it outperforms many of the alternatives endorsed by the House.

This development comes months after WhatsApp confirmed in January that users on its platform, including journalists and civil society members, were targeted by spyware developed by Israeli firm Paragon Solutions.

The move mirrors a similar action taken in 2022, when the House banned TikTok from government-issued devices amid fears over data privacy and national security. At the time, the House’s cybersecurity officials also labeled TikTok as “high risk” and instructed that it be removed from all congressional devices.

The latest ban underscores ongoing concerns within the U.S. government over the security of digital communication platforms and reflects a tightening stance on technologies perceived to threaten data integrity or user privacy in sensitive environments.