The U.S. House of Representatives has officially banned the use of WhatsApp on all government-issued devices.
While this decision may seem unusual in regions where WhatsApp is the go-to communication tool, it’s rooted in deeper concerns around cybersecurity, data privacy, and government accountability.
The ban, announced by the House’s Chief Administrative Officer, cites WhatsApp’s lack of transparency in how it handles data, its vulnerability to sophisticated spyware, and the potential risk of foreign access to sensitive information.
Though no specific country or recent cyberattack was named, the decision is widely seen as a precautionary measure to strengthen digital security within one of the most sensitive arms of government.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta (formerly Facebook), offers end-to-end encryption, meaning messages are protected between the sender and recipient.
However, history has shown that even encrypted platforms aren’t immune to breaches. In 2019, WhatsApp was exploited by the Pegasus spyware, developed by Israeli company NSO Group, through a “zero-click” vulnerability.
This allowed attackers to access phones without users clicking anything—targeting journalists, human rights defenders, and government officials.
Another Israeli-linked firm, Paragon Solutions, has reportedly engaged in similar exploits.
These incidents raised alarm over how such tools can bypass encryption and compromise even high-security users.
In the U.S., the concern is amplified by strict government communication laws. Officials are expected to preserve records of communication, especially when they involve public interest or policy matters.
Apps like WhatsApp, which don’t easily support such record-keeping, could enable staff to sidestep these obligations. That, combined with the potential for foreign surveillance, made it an unacceptable risk for government use.
Interestingly, the U.S. isn’t alone. Iran recently urged its citizens to delete WhatsApp, claiming the app was being used to funnel location data and metadata to Israeli intelligence particularly after targeted strikes on sensitive Iranian facilities.
While WhatsApp strongly denies these allegations and defends its encryption practices, the broader international concern around app-based surveillance is clearly growing.
The decision was made by the House’s Chief Administrative Officer, and it applies only to official devices—not to personal phones.