TEHRAN: WhatsApp said it was “concerned” that its services would be blocked in Iran after a state broadcaster urged the public to delete the messaging app, saying it was sharing data with arch-rival Israel.
State television IRIB on Tuesday urged Iranians to delete WhatsApp from their phones, alleging that the app collected users’ personal data and “last known locations and communications” and shared them with Israel.
On Wednesday, Israel and Iran exchanged fire for the sixth consecutive day, with Israel saying it had struck a nuclear site near Tehran.
A WhatsApp spokesperson rejected IRIB’s claims, saying that all messages sent on the app were “end-to-end encrypted,” meaning only the sender and recipient could access them.
“We are concerned that these false reports will be used as a pretext to block our services at a time when people need them most,” the spokesperson told media.
“We do not track your exact location, we do not keep records of who everyone is messaging, and we do not track the private messages that people are sending to each other,” they said.
WhatsApp also “does not provide any government with large amounts of information.”
Israel launched a massive bombing campaign against Iran on Friday that targeted nuclear and military facilities as well as residential areas.
Iran has responded by launching missiles and drones and said early Wednesday it had fired hypersonic missiles at Israel.
Tehran announced on Friday it was imposing temporary restrictions on the internet for the duration of the conflict.
Several sites and apps have since been at least partially inaccessible.
Authorities on Tuesday urged the public to “minimize the use of internet-connected devices and take appropriate precautions” online.
For their own safety, government employees and their security teams have been banned from using any connected devices, including smartphones, watches and laptops, during the Israeli airstrike.
Iranian authorities blocked several apps and online services, including WhatsApp, in the wake of nationwide protests following the 2022 death in custody of Mohseh Amini.
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