In a surprising move on June 18, 2025, Iran's state broadcaster urged Tehran residents to delete the popular messaging app WhatsApp, alleging it was sending personal information to Israel. This claim surfaced as military tensions between the two nations intensified, with both parties engaging in military strikes.
Iran's state television stated that WhatsApp and Instagram were allegedly collecting user data and providing it to what they termed the “Zionist enemy,” including personal locations and communications. However, no evidence was provided to substantiate these statements.
WhatsApp responded firmly, labeling the allegations as completely false. The messaging service, owned by Meta, emphasized that users' messages are protected by end-to-end encryption, meaning they cannot be accessed by anyone besides the sender and receiver. They expressed concern that such misinformation could lead to restrictions on their services during a critical time for communication within the region.
Reports from Iranian officials and citizens suggest that internet services in Iran are facing significant disruptions, possibly as a government tactic to manage information flow and mitigate the risk of Israeli cyberattacks. WhatsApp claims it neither tracks precise user locations nor shares user messages with any government, reiterating its commitment to user privacy and security.
