US House of Reps Bans WhatsApp on Official Devices

In a push to bolster cybersecurity, the US House of Representatives has banned the use of WhatsApp on government-issued devices for congressional staffers.

The decision, communicated via an internal email obtained by US news website Axios, cites concerns over the app's data security.

The Office of Cybersecurity, under the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), labeled WhatsApp a "high-risk" application due to its lack of transparency in data protection, absence of stored data encryption, and potential security vulnerabilities.

Staffers have been instructed to remove the app from all House-managed devices, including mobile phones, desktops, and web browsers.

WhatsApp parent Meta disagrees with the ban

Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, strongly disagreed with the House's assessment. Spokesperson Andy Stone emphasized that WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption ensures that only recipients can access messages, offering better security than many alternatives on the CAO's approved list.

The ban aligns with broader legislative efforts to limit the use of digital tools deemed high-risk. The House has already imposed restrictions on AI applications such as Microsoft Copilot and DeepSeek, as well as on apps from ByteDance, the parent of TikTok.

To maintain secure communication, the CAO recommends alternatives such as Microsoft Teams, Wickr, Signal, iMessage, and FaceTime.

Staffers are also advised to watch out for phishing scams and unsolicited messages.

Spyware fears?

The House’s decision likely reflects recent spyware infections executed by exploiting vulnerabilities in the popular instant messaging platform on iOS and Android devices alike.

A federal jury in May ordered Pegasus spyware maker NSO Group to pay Meta $167 million after testimony led the jury to conclude that the Israeli company sold its surveillance software to buyers looking to hack people’s phones through a WhatsApp vulnerability.

Meta, which owns WhatsApp, detected ongoing attacks as far back as six years ago. The attacks targeted more than 1,000 WhatsApp users, including human rights activists, journalists, diplomats, and other members of civil society.

Although the House recommends Apple’s iMessage as a safer way to communicate internal affairs, researchers at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab recently produced forensic proof that Paragon Solutions’ “Graphite” spyware exploited a weakness in the iOS Messages app to hack the iPhones of two high-profile journalists in Europe.

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