Iran Urges Citizens to Remove WhatsApp: What You Need to Know

On Tuesday, Iranian state television advised people to delete WhatsApp from their smartphones. Their claim? The app allegedly collects user information to send to Israel, although they didn’t provide any proof.

WhatsApp responded, expressing worry that these baseless claims might lead to the blocking of their services at a time when people rely on them most. They emphasized the security features of their platform, such as end-to-end encryption. This means that only the sender and recipient can read the messages. In simple terms, if someone else intercepts a message, they see a jumble of letters and numbers instead of the actual text.

Expert Gregory Falco, a cybersecurity professor at Cornell University, noted that while messages are encrypted, some metadata—like usage patterns—can still be accessed. “This has led to concerns,” he explained, “as people hesitate to engage fully with the app for this reason.” He also brought up a critical issue: data sovereignty. Many countries want their data stored and processed within their borders. Falco pointed out that it’s entirely possible for WhatsApp’s data from Iran to be stored elsewhere, creating distrust among users.

“Countries need to house their data locally,” he said. “Trusting a global data infrastructure is getting harder.” WhatsApp is part of Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.

Historically, Iran has restricted access to various social media platforms. Before, many used proxies and VPNs to access them. In 2022, during protests over a woman’s death in custody, Iran banned both WhatsApp and Google Play. Though that ban was lifted late last year, issues continue to simmer.

WhatsApp remains popular among Iranians, alongside other apps like Instagram and Telegram. While security concerns are real, the need for communication tools is just as pressing. Balancing both will be crucial for users and authorities moving forward.

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