Iran urges citizens to delete WhatsApp, citing unproven claims of data sharing with Israel. Meta denies allegations, defending platform’s encryption and privacy.
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| Iranian state media calls for public to remove WhatsApp amid unverified claims of Israeli espionage. Experts warn of privacy concerns and data sovereignty issues. Image: CH |
TEHRAN, Iran — June 18, 2025:
Iranian authorities have urged citizens to delete WhatsApp from their smartphones, claiming—without presenting evidence—that the messaging platform is gathering user data to share with Israel.
The message was broadcast Tuesday on Iranian state television and represents a significant escalation in Tehran's ongoing distrust of Western tech platforms. The allegations immediately drew a response from WhatsApp, which is owned by U.S.-based Meta Platforms.
In a statement, WhatsApp expressed concern about the timing and motives behind the warning:
“We are concerned these false reports will be an excuse for our services to be blocked at a time when people need them the most,” the company said.
Reiterating its commitment to user privacy, WhatsApp added:
“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 emphasized its use of end-to-end encryption, a technology that ensures only the sender and recipient can read message content. Even if intercepted, encrypted messages remain unreadable to service providers or third parties.
Still, experts caution that encryption doesn’t cover everything. Gregory Falco, a cybersecurity specialist and assistant professor at Cornell University, explained that while message content is encrypted, metadata—including usage patterns and communication networks—is not. “This metadata can still reveal a lot about user behavior,” he noted.
Falco also highlighted the growing issue of data sovereignty:
“It’s very likely that Iranian user data is stored outside of Iran,” he said. “Countries increasingly want to ensure their citizens' data remains within national borders, especially as confidence in international data systems continues to erode.”
This is not Iran’s first clash with international tech platforms. In 2022, amid nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s morality police, the government imposed widespread restrictions on apps including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Google Play. Although these restrictions were lifted in late 2024, the current rhetoric suggests a possible return to platform bans.
Despite government-imposed barriers, many Iranians rely on VPNs and proxy tools to access blocked services. WhatsApp remains among the most widely used messaging platforms in the country, alongside Telegram and Instagram.
As geopolitical tensions increasingly shape internet policy, the clash over WhatsApp underscores deeper battles over digital sovereignty, censorship, and access to secure communication.