The US House of Representatives has banned WhatsApp from official devices, citing data security risks and transparency issues.
WhatsApp has been banned from all US House of Representatives devices, according to an internal memo issued Monday. The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer cited cybersecurity concerns, saying WhatsApp poses a “high risk to users” due to unclear data protection practices and a lack of stored data encryption.
The memo recommended more secure alternatives such as Microsoft Teams, Signal, Apple’s iMessage, FaceTime, and Amazon’s Wickr.
Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, opposed the decision. “We disagree with this decision in the strongest possible terms,” a spokesperson said, insisting WhatsApp offers stronger security than the approved alternatives.
The move comes amid growing scrutiny of digital security in Congress. Earlier this year, a WhatsApp executive confirmed users, including journalists, had been targeted by Israeli spyware firm Paragon Solutions.
This follows a 2022 ban of TikTok from House devices over similar national security concerns.