The United States House of Representatives has officially banned the use of WhatsApp on all government-managed devices, citing growing cybersecurity concerns. The move comes after a detailed internal assessment deemed the Meta-owned messaging app a “high-risk” platform for official communication, mainly due to its data handling policies and potential vulnerabilities.
In a memo issued by the House’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), staffers were instructed to uninstall WhatsApp from their mobile, desktop, or web-based devices no later than June 30, 2025. The CAO’s Office of Cybersecurity raised alarms over WhatsApp’s lack of stored-data encryption and questioned the platform’s transparency around how user information is managed. The memo stated that if WhatsApp is not removed voluntarily, House authorities may intervene directly to ensure compliance.
This latest action places WhatsApp alongside other banned applications, such as TikTok, which was removed from official devices in 2022, and restricted versions of AI tools like ChatGPT. The House’s decision to eliminate WhatsApp continues a broader government trend of tightening control over the use of consumer apps within sensitive government environments.
Despite Meta’s insistence on WhatsApp’s safety, the CAO’s office has recommended alternative platforms such as Signal, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime, iMessage, and Amazon’s encrypted messaging app, Wickr—all of which are currently cleared for use by government staff.
Meta responded strongly to the ban. In a statement, Meta’s Communications Director, Andy Stone, challenged the decision, saying:
“We disagree with the House Chief Administrative Officer’s characterization in the strongest possible terms. WhatsApp’s messages are protected by end-to-end encryption by default, offering greater security than most approved apps on this list.”
Stone also pointed out the inconsistency in government decisions, noting that WhatsApp remains permitted for use in the U.S. Senate, raising questions about whether the policy stems from uniform cybersecurity standards or internal administrative discretion.
The ban comes in the wake of a broader international debate about privacy and surveillance. Earlier this year, reports surfaced that Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions had used advanced malware to target WhatsApp users—including journalists and civil society actors—through remote access to phones.
The move to ban WhatsApp has drawn mixed reactions. While cybersecurity experts have applauded the House for taking proactive measures to protect sensitive data, digital rights advocates warn that such blanket bans can limit communication and create precedent for overreach in regulating technology use within public institutions.
With WhatsApp boasting over three billion users worldwide and widely used for both personal and semi-official conversations, its exclusion from government channels marks a significant shift. It also highlights the growing tension between the convenience of global digital tools and the pressing need for stringent national security measures in an age of cyber warfare and data exploitation.
As the June 30 deadline approaches, questions remain over whether other branches of the U.S. government—and perhaps even other countries—will follow suit, and what this might mean for Meta’s flagship messaging platform in the long term.