The U.S. House of Representatives has officially prohibited the use of WhatsApp on all government-managed devices, citing serious cybersecurity risks. The directive, issued via an internal memo by the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer’s Office of Cybersecurity, classifies WhatsApp as a “high risk” application.
The memo highlights several concerns, including a lack of transparency in data protection, unencrypted stored data, and other vulnerabilities that could compromise sensitive information. A Reuters report noted that cybersecurity officials are particularly alarmed by WhatsApp’s data handling practices, warning that continued use could lead to unauthorized access.
As a result, lawmakers and staff have been ordered to uninstall WhatsApp and switch to more secure, approved platforms. These include Microsoft Teams, Amazon’s Wickr, Signal, iMessage, and FaceTime.
In response, a WhatsApp spokesperson strongly disagreed with the decision, asserting that the platform provides industry-leading end-to-end encryption and surpasses the security of some of the alternatives endorsed by the House.
The ban follows revelations earlier this year that journalists and civil society members using WhatsApp were targeted with spyware developed by Israeli firm Paragon Solutions.
This move mirrors the House’s 2022 ban on TikTok from government devices over national security concerns, as officials also deemed it a “high risk” platform.
The latest action underscores the U.S. government’s growing scrutiny of digital communication tools and its commitment to safeguarding sensitive data across federal systems.
