The US House of Representatives has decided to block WhatsApp on all devices managed by the government. This action was taken due to serious concerns about cybersecurity. A memo from the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, specifically its cybersecurity department, informed congressional staff of the new rule.

WhatsApp was labeled a “high risk” app in the memo. The reasons include not being clear enough about how it protects user information, not encrypting stored data, and other weaknesses that could put sensitive data in danger.

According to Reuters, the cybersecurity team is especially worried about how WhatsApp handles data. They believe keeping the app on official devices could lead to unauthorized people getting access to private government information.

Because of this, lawmakers and staff must now remove WhatsApp from their work devices. They are told to start using other messaging apps that are considered safer. Some of the approved apps include Microsoft Teams, Amazon’s Wickr, Signal, iMessage, and FaceTime.

In response to the ban, a WhatsApp spokesperson strongly disagreed with the decision. The company claims its app has strong end-to-end encryption and top-level security, even better than some of the apps the government has approved.

This decision came not long after WhatsApp admitted that spyware from an Israeli company, Paragon Solutions, had been used to target users like journalists and members of civil society earlier in the year.

This isn’t the first time the House has blocked a popular app. In 2022, TikTok was also banned from official devices over privacy and national security worries. At the time, cybersecurity officials also called TikTok a “high risk” app.

The latest move shows the US government is becoming more cautious about which digital tools are allowed in its offices. Protecting sensitive data and user privacy remains a top priority in government communications.