Iran’s state television urged citizens to delete WhatsApp, alleging without evidence that the app was transmitting user information to Israel amid ongoing military tensions between the two countries.
On Tuesday, the Iranian state broadcaster claimed that WhatsApp and Instagram were gathering personal data and sharing it with Israel, referred to as the "Zionist enemy." The broadcaster did not provide any substantiation for these allegations.
In response, WhatsApp issued a statement refuting the claims, expressing concern that such misinformation could lead to the blocking of its services during a critical time when communication is essential. The company emphasized that all messages sent via WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted, ensuring that only the sender and recipient can access them, and not even WhatsApp itself.
Reports indicate that internet services in Iran are experiencing significant disruptions, with officials, experts, and citizens suggesting that the government may be restricting access to mitigate the dissemination of information regarding military strikes and to guard against potential Israeli cyberattacks.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, reiterated that it does not track users' precise locations or monitor their messages. The company also stated that it does not provide bulk information to any government, highlighting the challenges that law enforcement and intelligence agencies face in accessing encrypted communications.