Iran Urges Citizens To Delete WhatsApp

On June 17, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) issued a message urging Iranian citizens to delete or deactivate WhatsApp from their devices, alleging that the Meta-owned platform was sending user data to Israel. Meta warns that this could precede a nationwide ban on the app.

IRNA, the Iranian government’s official news source, warned that the “Zionist regime is using citizens’ information to harm us,” according to Al Jazeera.

“This is extremely important because they are using the information on your phone, your location and the content you share, which is likely private but still accessible,” said an IRNA host during the live broadcast.

WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, which is designed to prevent third parties – including Meta – from accessing user data. So far, the Iranian government has not provided evidence that the chat app was used to share private data with foreign governments.

However, cybersecurity experts have proven that third parties can still access unencrypted WhatsApp metadata.

There is also growing concern over the use of Israeli spyware by governments to illegally access the personal data. Pegasus spyware was used on citizens of over 40 countries, targeting individuals without their consent and was linked to human rights violations. More recently it was confirmed that the Italian government used Paragon spyware to target journalists, critics, and activists.

Meta argues that the statements by IRNA could be used as an excuse to ban the app in the country “at a time when people need them the most.”

In a statement to the Associated Press, Meta wrote: “We do not track your precise location, we don’t keep logs of who everyone is messaging and we do not track the personal messages people are sending one another […] We do not provide bulk information to any government.”

WhatsApp has previously been banned in the country following its popular use in anti-government protests in 2022, sparked after the death of a 22-year-old Iranian citizen under police custody. Iran recently lifted the ban in December of last year.