Latest news with #AndyStone
Phone Arena
3 hours ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Congress just banned a major app over data fears — and it's not the one you'd expect
WhatsApp has been banned from all U.S. House of Representatives devices due to concerns over how the app handles user data. According to Axios, House staff received an email on Monday from the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) stating that the messaging app is no longer allowed on any government-managed phones, computers, or browsers. The Office of Cybersecurity said WhatsApp is considered a high-risk platform because of "the lack of transparency in how it protects user data, absence of stored data encryption, and potential security risks involved with its use." Staffers have been told to delete the app if it is already installed, and to avoid downloading it in the future. This isn't the first time the House has restricted access to popular digital tools. Over the past few years, it has issued bans or partial bans on apps from ByteDance, AI tools like DeepSeek, and even Microsoft's Copilot. For ChatGPT, only the paid version — ChatGPT Plus — is currently approved for use. The decision to block WhatsApp comes shortly after Meta, the company behind the app, confirmed plans to begin testing ads in WhatsApp Status. While the ban officially focuses on data security, the timing has led to speculation that the recent move toward monetization may have raised additional concerns. WhatsApp announced it will start placing ads in user status messages. | Image credit — WhatsApp In response, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone disagreed with the decision and pointed out that WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted by default, meaning only the people involved in a conversation can read the content. — Andy Stone, Meta spokesperson Despite Meta's defense, the CAO listed several approved messaging alternatives for House use. These include Microsoft Teams, Signal, Wickr, iMessage, and FaceTime. The email also warned staff to watch out for phishing attempts and unknown texts, urging them to stay alert. While WhatsApp's encryption remains one of its core features, the House's decision highlights a growing debate over how secure messaging apps really are — especially as more platforms begin to introduce ads and other changes that affect user privacy. Personally, I find it surprising to see Signal on the list of approved apps — not that there's anything wrong with the apps, but just because of the optics following a previous political scandal involving that same app in the past few months. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
The Hill
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Hill
WhatsApp banned on House staffer devices
Messaging app WhatsApp has been banned on congressional staffers' government devices, the U.S. House's chief administrative officer (CAO) confirmed Monday. 'Protecting the People's House is our topmost priority, and we are always monitoring and analyzing for potential cybersecurity risks that could endanger the data of House Members and staff,' said Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindo in a statement shared with The Hill. 'We routinely review the list of House-authorized apps and will amend the list as deemed appropriate,' she added. Staffers were notified Monday via email, Axios first reported. According to the email obtained by Axios, the CAO told staffers the Officer of Cybersecurity determined WhatsApp is a 'high-risk to users due to lack of transparency in how it protects user data, absence of stored data encryption and potential security risks involved with its use.' Staffers are not permitted to download or keep the WhatsApp app on any House device, including phones and deskptops, and cannot access it through web browsers, the email stated. WhatsApp is owned by Meta, which also owns popular social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said the company disagrees with the CAO's characterization 'in the strongest possible terms.' 'We know members and their staffs regularly use WhatsApp and we look forward to ensuring members of the House can join their Senate counterparts in doing so officially,' Stone said in a post on X. 'Messages on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted by default, meaning only the recipients and not even WhatsApp can see them. This is a higher level of security than most of the apps on the CAO's approved list that do not offer that protection,' he added. It comes months after the CAO warned offices against using Chinese AI platform DeepSeek shortly after it took the internet by storm and roiled the confidence of American investors. A bipartisan group of senators later introduced legislation to ban the startup's products from government devices and networks.
The Verge
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Verge
House staffers can't have WhatsApp on their devices
The House of Representatives has banned staff members from using WhatsApp on government devices, according to a report from Axios. In an email viewed by the outlet, the House's chief administrative officer (CAO) tells staffers that the Office of Cybersecurity 'has deemed WhatsApp a high-risk' because of a 'lack of transparency in how it protects user data, absence of stored data encryption, and potential security risks.' The email says that congressional staff members can't download or use the mobile, desktop, or web browser version of WhatsApp on any government device. 'If you have a WhatsApp application on your House-managed device, you will be contacted to remove it,' the email reads. Meta communications director Andy Stone pushed back against the decision in a post on X, saying the company disagrees with the CAO's characterization of WhatsApp 'in the strongest possible terms.' Stone adds that messages on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted by default, meaning third parties — not even Meta, which owns the platform — can read them. 'This is a higher level of security than most of the apps on the CAO's approved list that do not offer that protection,' Stone writes. As noted by The Guardian, the CAO's message to staff recommended that they use other apps for communications instead, such as Microsoft Teams, Signal, iMessage, FaceTime, or the Amazon-owned messaging service Wickr. The CAO didn't immediately respond to The Verge's request for more information. WhatsApp isn't the only app not allowed by the House. It has also banned TikTok on government devices and put restrictions on the use of the free version of ChatGPT.
Engadget
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Engadget
US House reportedly bans WhatsApp on government devices
US congressional staffers have reportedly been told that they're no longer allowed to use WhatsApp on government devices. The House of Representatives' chief administrative officer (CAO) is said to have informed workers on Monday that the app — including the mobile, desktop and web-based versions — is not permitted on House-managed devices. "The Office of Cybersecurity has deemed WhatsApp 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," the CAO wrote in an email, according to Axios . Microsoft Teams, Wickr, Signal (despite how easy it might be to accidentally invite a reporter to a sensitive group chat), iMessage and FaceTime were reportedly cited as acceptable alternatives, and the CAO reminded workers to be vigilant regarding potential phishing scams. "We disagree with the House Chief Administrative Officer's characterization in the strongest possible terms," Meta spokesperson Andy Stone wrote on X . "We know members and their staffs regularly use WhatsApp and we look forward to ensuring members of the House can join their Senate counterparts in doing so officially. Messages on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted by default, meaning only the recipients and not even WhatsApp can see them. This is a higher level of security than most of the apps on the CAO's approved list that do not offer that protection." The step follows limitations on congressional staffers' use of other apps (including generative AI ones) that the CAO has deemed to be risky. Those include ChatGPT , TikTok , DeepSeek (which some states and federal departments have also banned from government devices ) and Microsoft Copilot .
TechCrunch
5 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
A glitch is turning Threads into a literal echo chamber
We've heard it all — X is turning into a right-wing echo chamber, Bluesky is a liberal bubble, and so on. But a glitch on Threads has turned these concerns into a reality: everyone is saying the same exact thing over and over again. In a bug affecting some Threads users on desktop and mobile, it appears that one user's post will get repeated over and over again, looking as though every user on your feed is saying the same thing. 'Siri, unsubscribe me from 2025,' one Threads user wrote, per a screenshot from social media expert Alexa Heinrich. But then, everyone else on Henrich's feed appeared to be echoing the same cheugy joke, all begging for Apple's beleaguered AI to save them from a news cycle of constant horrors. Image Credits:Alexa Heinrich on Threads Meta's apps have committed a couple of faux pas lately, but this Threads error leans more silly than harmful. Meanwhile, some users were unknowingly posting their conversations with Meta AI onto a public feed last week, revealing personal information about medical issues, contact information, legal concerns, and more. While it's not yet clear what caused the bug, Meta Communications Director Andy Stone responded to app researcher Jane Manchun Wong's post about the issue. 'Whoops, well that clearly shouldn't have happened! We're working on getting it fixed now,' Stone said. 'Whoops, well that clearly shouldn't have happened! We're working on getting it fixed now,' Wong replied. Techcrunch event Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW
