By Kolawole Ojebisi
WhatsApp has dismissed claims by Iran TV that it’s sharing confidential messages and data with its arch-rival, Israel.
A WhatsApp spokesperson faulted the claims on Wednesday, saying all messages sent on the app are “end-to-end encrypted”, with only the sender and recipient able to access them.
According to the spokesperson, the allegations were made to serve as pretext for blocking the messaging app. services.
“We’re concerned these false reports will be used as an excuse to block our services at a time when people need them most,” the spokesperson told AFP.
“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,” they said.
WhatsApp also does not “provide bulk information to any government”.
The state television, IRIB, appealed to Iranians on Tuesday to delete WhatsApp from their phones, alleging that the app collects users’ personal data, including “last known locations and communications”, and shares them with Israel.
The allegations came amid the ongoing war between Israel and Iran which entered the sixth consecutive day on Wednesday.
Israel launched a massive bombing campaign against Iran on Friday, targeting nuclear and military facilities as well as residential areas.
Iran has refused to take the unrelenting attacks lying down, responding in kind by launching missiles and drones.
Meanwhile on Wednesday the two nations claimed to have recorded success in their efforts to weaken each other.
While Israel announced to have hit a nuclear site in Tehran, Iran boasted to have fired hypersonic missiles at Israel.
Recall that Tehran on Friday announced that it was placing temporary restrictions on the internet for the duration of the conflict.
Numerous sites and apps have since become at least partially inaccessible.
The authorities appealed to the public on Tuesday to “minimise their use of equipment connected to the internet and to take appropriate precautions” online.
For their own safety, civil servants and their security teams have been banned from using any connected devices, including smartphones, watches, and laptops, during the Israeli air offensive.
WhatsApp’s concerns may have been fuelled by the precedent set by Iran in 2022 following the nationwide protests triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.
Iranian authorities blocked several apps and online services, including WhatsApp in the wake of the massive protests.
