Washington, D.C. – June 24, 2025 – In a significant move, the U.S. House of Representatives has banned WhatsApp from all government-issued devices, citing serious cybersecurity risks. The decision, announced by the House’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) on Monday, underscores growing concerns about the Meta-owned messaging platform’s data privacy practices.

According to an internal memo obtained by Axios, the Office of Cybersecurity deemed WhatsApp “high-risk” due to “a lack of transparency in how it protects user data, absence of stored data encryption, and potential security risks involved with its use.” The ban applies to all versions of the app, including mobile, desktop, and web-based platforms, and staffers have been instructed to immediately uninstall WhatsApp from House-managed devices.

The CAO recommended alternative messaging apps, including Microsoft Teams, Amazon’s Wickr, Signal, and Apple’s iMessage and FaceTime, which are considered more secure for official communications. This move aligns with previous House restrictions on apps like TikTok, DeepSeek, Microsoft Copilot, and the free version of ChatGPT, reflecting a broader push to mitigate digital security vulnerabilities.

Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, strongly opposed the ban. Spokesperson Andy Stone took to X, stating, “We disagree with the House Chief Administrative Officer’s characterization in the strongest possible terms.” He emphasized that WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption offers “a higher level of security than most of the apps on the CAO’s approved list.” Stone added that Meta is eager to work with House officials to ensure continued use, noting that Senate staffers face no such restrictions.

The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of Meta’s data practices. Recent reports highlighted WhatsApp’s vulnerability to spyware, with a January 2025 statement from a WhatsApp official revealing that Israeli firm Paragon Solutions had targeted users, including journalists and civil society members. Additionally, Meta’s rollout of advertisements on WhatsApp’s Updates tab has raised privacy concerns, prompting skepticism from federal cybersecurity officials.

Public sentiment on X reflects distrust in Meta, with users like @cb_doge and @AyySweetsTea9 posting, “Meta can not be trusted,” alongside news of the ban. These reactions echo broader concerns about the company’s handling of user data, especially as it faces an ongoing antitrust lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission over its acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram.

The House’s decision signals a growing wariness of foreign-owned or insufficiently transparent tech platforms in U.S. government operations. As cybersecurity threats evolve, this ban may set a precedent for further restrictions on communication tools used by federal employees.

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