The United States House of Representatives has banned Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp messaging service from all official devices, citing security risks and a lack of transparency regarding user data protection.

According to a memo circulated to all House staff on Monday by the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, the decision was based on findings by the Office of Cybersecurity.

The memo stated that WhatsApp poses “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.”

Staff members have been advised to use alternative platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Amazon’s Wickr, Signal, iMessage, and FaceTime for official communication.

In response, Meta strongly objected to the decision. “We disagree with this decision in the strongest possible terms,” a company spokesperson said, claiming WhatsApp offers higher levels of security than many of the approved alternatives.

The move comes amid growing concerns about cybersecurity within U.S. government institutions. Earlier this year, a WhatsApp executive revealed that Israeli surveillance firm Paragon Solutions had targeted several users of the app, including journalists and civil society members.

This is not the first time the House has taken action against consumer apps on security grounds. In 2022, TikTok was similarly banned from House-issued devices due to data privacy concerns.