\u2018Office of Cybersecurity has deemed WhatsApp a high risk to users due to lack of transparency\u2019
\n Washington
\nMeta Platforms\u2019 WhatsApp messaging service has been banned from all US House of Representatives devices, according to a memo sent to all House staff on Monday.
\nThe notice said the \u201cOffice of Cybersecurity has deemed WhatsApp a high risk to users due to the lack of transparency in how it protects user data, absence of stored data encryption and potential security risks involved with its use\u201d.
\nThe memo, from the chief administrative officer, recommended using other messaging apps, including Microsoft Corp\u2019s Teams platform, Amazon.com\u2019s Wickr, Signal, and Apple\u2019s iMessage and FaceTime.
\nMeta disagreed with the move \u201cin the strongest possible terms,\u201d a company spokesperson said, noting that the platform provides a higher level of security than the other approved apps.
\nIn January, a WhatsApp official said Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions had targeted scores of its users, including journalists and members of civil society.
\n\u201cProtecting the people\u2019s House is our topmost priority, and we are always monitoring and analysing for potential cybersecurity risks that could endanger the data of House members and staff,\u201d Szpindor told Financial Times.
\nThe restriction will go into effect starting June 30, requiring staff to uninstall WhatsApp from all official House devices.
\nWhatsApp remains approved for use in the US Senate despite the House ban.
\nThe same FT report highlighted Meta\u2019s broader push to strengthen ties with the US military and government, including allowing agencies to use its AI models for defense purposes and partnering with defense firm Anduril on new military tech.
\nIn January, Reuters reported that an official from WhatsApp claimed Israeli spyware firm Paragon Solutions had targeted scores of WhatsApp users, including journalists and members of civil society.
\nAccording to Financial Times, Meta\u2019s chief technology officer Andrew Bosworth recently announced his commission as a lieutenant colonel in the US Army Reserve\u2019s Executive Innovation Corps\u2014seen by analysts as another step toward deepening cooperation between Meta and the military.
\nThe app ban also echoes the House\u2019s 2022 decision to prohibit TikTok from government devices in 2022 over data security concerns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018Office of Cybersecurity has deemed WhatsApp a high risk to users due to lack of transparency\u2019 Washington Meta Platforms\u2019 WhatsApp messaging service has been banned from all US House of Representatives devices, according to a memo sent to all House staff on Monday. The notice said the \u201cOffice of Cybersecurity has deemed WhatsApp a high […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":486382,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-486373","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n