Amidst War, Iran’s Call to Delete WhatsApp Sparks Fears of Nationwide Ban

As Israel and Iran traded blows for a sixth consecutive day, Iranian state television, IRIB, issued a startling appeal: delete WhatsApp. The broadcaster alleged the messaging app shares user data, including location and communications, with Israel – a claim WhatsApp vehemently denies.

The call to delete the app, issued Tuesday, comes amid heightened tensions and existing internet restrictions imposed by Tehran since Friday’s massive Israeli bombing campaign targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites, as well as residential areas. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes, including, it claims, hypersonic missiles.

A WhatsApp spokesperson flatly rejected IRIB’s accusations, stating that all messages are end-to-end encrypted, accessible only to the sender and recipient. They expressed deep concern that these unsubstantiated claims could be used to justify a complete shutdown of the platform—a critical communication lifeline during this volatile period.

“We’re concerned these false reports will be used as an excuse to block our services at a time when people need them most,” the spokesperson told AFP. The spokesperson emphasized that WhatsApp does not track precise location, message logs, or the content of personal messages, and does not provide bulk user information to any government.

This isn’t the first time Iranian authorities have cracked down on communication apps. Following the 2022 protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, several online services, including WhatsApp, faced similar restrictions. The current situation, with civil servants even banned from using connected devices for their own safety, raises serious questions about the future of internet access and communication within Iran.

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