House Orders WhatsApp Removal from Official Devices

On Monday, June 23rd, the U.S. House of Representatives ordered the removal of WhatsApp from all official devices, citing security risks linked to data protection and encryption practices.

The Chief Administrative Officer ordered all House staff to uninstall WhatsApp from official phones, computers, and browsers by June 30th. The Office of Cybersecurity labeled the app high-risk, citing unclear data practices, lack of default encryption for stored data, and other security vulnerabilities.

Meta, which owns WhatsApp, rejected the ban. Spokesperson Andy Stone said the app uses default end-to-end encryption that even the company cannot access. He added that the Senate still allows WhatsApp and that Meta has been working with House officials to reverse the decision.

In response, Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindor stated that safeguarding House infrastructure remains the top priority. She added that her office continues to monitor all potential cybersecurity threats.

The memo did not cite a specific reason for the ban, but experts offered possible explanations. Johns Hopkins professor Matthew Green pointed to WhatsApp’s backup system, which lacks default encryption and can be difficult to use. He said this may have influenced the cybersecurity office’s decision.

Some raised concerns about WhatsApp’s use of artificial intelligence, but Johns Hopkins cybersecurity expert Thomas Rid said AI was not discussed between Meta and House officials.

The decision highlights an increasing divide in how government institutions approach digital communication tools and reflects broader efforts to tighten cybersecurity standards across federal agencies.