Iranian state television on Tuesday called on citizens to delete WhatsApp from their smartphones, without providing specific evidence, claiming that the Meta-owned messaging platform was collecting user data to send to Israel.
The broadcast marks the latest move by Tehran to assert greater control over digital communications amid heightened regional tensions and domestic unease.
In response, WhatsApp strongly rejected the accusation.
“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 private messaging company said.
It reiterated that it uses end-to-end encryption, which ensures only the sender and recipient of a message can read its contents.
“We do not track your precise location, we don’t keep logs of who everyone is messaging, and we do not provide bulk information to any government,” WhatsApp added.
Despite this, cybersecurity experts note that WhatsApp does retain some unencrypted metadata, such as timestamps and general usage patterns.
Gregory Falco, an assistant professor of engineering at Cornell University, emphasized that while message contents remain secure, metadata can offer insights into communication behaviours.
“That’s been a consistent issue where people have not been interested in engaging with WhatsApp,” he said.
Falco also highlighted concerns about data sovereignty — where user data is stored and processed. “It’s more than feasible, for instance, that WhatsApp’s data from Iran is not hosted in Iran,” he said.
“Countries need to house their data in-country and process the data in-country with their own algorithms.”
WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta Platforms, also operates Facebook and Instagram — both of which have faced intermittent restrictions in Iran.
Iran has a history of blocking access to major social media platforms, particularly during periods of political unrest.
WhatsApp and Google Play were previously banned in 2022 following nationwide protests over the death of a woman in police custody, though that ban was lifted in late 2024. Many Iranians continue to use the app via VPNs and proxy services.
Until now, WhatsApp had remained one of the most widely used messaging apps in Iran, alongside Instagram and Telegram.
It remains to be seen whether the government's latest directive will translate into widespread compliance or further fuel the country’s growing reliance on encrypted communications and circumvention tools.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million peop...
Counting is underway in Armenia’s parliamentary elections, with the results of the vote set to determine the makeup of the National Assembly and sha...
The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S...
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships ...
Sirens rang out across multiple areas of Israel on Sunday night after missiles were launched from Iran towards the country, the Israeli military said...
Counting is underway in Armenia’s parliamentary elections, with the results of the vote set to determine the makeup of the National Assembly and shape the country's political direction for the foreseeable future. But in Armenia, the final result is not decided by vote percentages alone.
The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S. visa approvals continues to cast a shadow over the country's tournament preparations.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has warned ahead of World Environment Day that Afghanistan's worsening water crisis is disproportionately affecting women and girls, who bear much of the responsibility for securing water for their families.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
More than 6,000 people gathered outside a vote-counting centre in Seoul on Friday night, demanding this week’s local elections be repeated after ballot shortages left some voters unable to cast their ballots.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with around 600 mothers dying for every 100,000 live births.
In a workshop surrounded by the wreckage of war, workers in Gaza are giving a second life to small leisure boats once used for family outings and swimming trips.
A seven-month-old Palestinian baby has been killed and his parents injured after Israeli forces fired at a vehicle in Hebron, Palestinian health officials say.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment