House Halts WhatsApp Use Citing Security Concerns
The U.S. House of Representatives has officially banned the use of WhatsApp, the messaging platform owned by Meta, citing security risks. According to a Reuters report, the directive was issued in a memo circulated to all House staff on Monday.
The memo stated that WhatsApp “lacks transparency in protecting user data,” and due to the absence of encrypted storage for retained information, it exposes users to potential cyber threats.
As alternatives, House staff have been advised to use Microsoft Teams, Amazon’s Wickr, Apple’s iMessage and FaceTime, and the Signal app for secure communication.
Meta has strongly opposed the decision, stating that “WhatsApp provides more security than many of the other approved apps.”
This is not the first time Congress has taken such a step. In 2022, it banned TikTok over similar security concerns. Earlier this year, WhatsApp reported that Israeli spyware firm Paragon Solutions had allegedly been surveilling its users, further intensifying scrutiny around the app’s security infrastructure.
