Citing security issues, the chief administrative officer (CAO) of the House of Representatives today announced an order banning representatives and staff from utilizing WhatsApp on government-issued devices. This encompasses smartphones as well as laptop and desktop computers. Additionally, anyone with WhatsApp already installed on a device is required to remove it. Using web-based versions of the application is equally forbidden.
The CAO did not specify any particular security concerns, but indicated that the prohibition was due to a deficiency in transparency from WhatsApp regarding their privacy and security measures. For affected users seeking an alternative messaging service, the CAO suggested that impacted staff consider Microsoft Teams, Wickr, Signal, iMessage, or FaceTime.
In an internal email acquired by Axios, the CAO stated:
“The Office of Cybersecurity has classified WhatsApp as high-risk for users because of the lack of clarity in how it safeguards user data, the lack of encrypted stored data, and potential security threats associated with its use.”
Following the revelation by Axios, U.S. House chief administrative officer Catherine Szpindor provided the following statement to CNBC:
“Ensuring the security of the People’s House is our utmost priority, and we consistently monitor and evaluate potential cybersecurity threats that might jeopardize the data of House Members and staff.”
If any of this sounds familiar, that’s because it is. In 2022, the CAO issued a comparable order prohibiting all House of Representatives devices from using TikTok due to various “security concerns.”
Predictably, Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, is not overly happy with the CAO’s latest directive. This is even more true given its notably ambiguous nature.
In response, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone took to X earlier today to express the company’s dissatisfaction with the order.
