Meta is currently facing challenges due to a recent decision by the US House of Representatives, which prohibits the use of WhatsApp on government devices. According to reports, congressional staffers have been instructed not to utilize the messaging platform on any devices managed by the government.

This ban was implemented shortly after Meta introduced advertisements within WhatsApp, raising further questions about the company’s strategy. The chief administrative officer (CAO) of the US House communicated the ban to staff members, specifying that both the mobile and web versions of WhatsApp are off-limits for government use.

An email from the CAO expressed concerns regarding WhatsApp’s security vulnerabilities, stating, “The Office 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.”

In light of the ban, the CAO has suggested alternative communication tools such as Microsoft Teams, Wickr, Signal, iMessage, and FaceTime as safer options. Additionally, government employees have been advised to be alert for potential phishing scams.

Meta’s reaction to this decision has been one of strong disapproval. Company spokesperson Andy Stone publicly criticized the CAO’s assessment on social media, asserting that WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption provides a level of security that many of the government-approved alternatives do not have.

This ban on WhatsApp is not an isolated incident. The US House’s CAO has previously flagged other applications, including popular generative AI tools like ChatGPT, as risks.

Additionally, the Biden administration enacted a ban on TikTok for government devices, reflecting ongoing concerns about data security in the digital communications landscape.