Excerpt from The Hacker News Article, Published on Jun 24, 2025.
In a significant move reflecting growing cybersecurity concerns, the US House of Representatives has officially banned the use of WhatsApp on all government-issued devices. The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny over data protection and transparency in digital communication platforms, particularly within the US government. The ban was first reported by Axios and was confirmed through a memo issued by the House Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). According to the memo, the US House Office of Cybersecurity deemed WhatsApp a high-risk platform due to several security shortcomings. These include a lack of transparency in data protection practices, the absence of stored data encryption, and potential vulnerabilities that could expose sensitive government communications.
As per the directive, all congressional staff in the US are now prohibited from downloading or using WhatsApp on any official device—whether mobile, desktop, or web-based. The CAO has instead recommended alternative communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Amazon’s Wickr, Signal, Apple’s iMessage, and FaceTime, which are considered safer for official use within the US legislative framework. WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta, has responded strongly to the ban. Meta’s Communication Director Andy Stone rejected the US House’s assessment, stating that WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption by default and provides a higher level of security than many apps currently approved by the CAO. Stone also noted that many members and staff in the US Senate continue to use WhatsApp without similar restrictions.
The US House’s decision adds WhatsApp to a growing list of banned apps, including TikTok, ChatGPT, and DeepSeek, citing national security and privacy issues. This latest development further underscores the US government’s ongoing efforts to reinforce cybersecurity across all branches of its legislative institutions, while also maintaining strict control over digital communications within official networks.
To delve deeper into this topic, please read the full article The Hacker News.
