WhatsApp banned on House staff’s devices, Axios reports – CNY Central

by RAY LEWIS | The National News Desk Tue, June 24th 2025 at 1:26 PM A WhatsApp icon is displayed on an iPhone. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File) WASHINGTON (TNND) — Messaging app WhatsApp is now banned on government devices used by staff at the House of Representatives, Axios reported Monday. The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), which provides administrative, technical, and operational support for House members, officers and staff, reportedly told workers they are not allowed to download or keep WhatsApp on any House device. The ban applies to mobile, desktop and web browser versions of the app, Axios quoted the CAO as saying.“If you have a WhatsApp application on your House-managed device, you will be contacted to remove it,” the CAO added, according to Axios. The office reportedly deemed WhatsApp a “high-risk” to its users because of a lack of transparency in how the app protects user data, as well as the absence of stored data encryption and potential security issues. Meta, which owns WhatsApp, said in a statement to The National News Desk (TNND) that it disagrees with the CAO’s characterization “in the strongest possible terms.” “We know members and their staffs regularly use WhatsApp and
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