TECH

German Commissioner warns public officials against using WhatsApp

According to Ulrich Kelber, German commissioner for data protection, the WhatsApp application collects data that would indirectly allow deciphering users' identities.
German data protection commissioner Ulrich Kelber warned federal authorities against using the WhatsApp messaging app while working remotely, in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, in a letter released by the media on Sunday (17).
"Even in these difficult times, data protection should not be neglected. For this reason, I would like to point out that the use of WhatsApp by a federal agency is out of the question," said Kelber in an email published by the German blog on rights. digital, Netzpolitik.
He warned that although Facebook (to which WhatsApp belongs) cannot read encrypted messages, the application was providing him with other "metadata" such as the IP address, location and mobile operating system, which could be used to decipher the user profile.
German authorities use the app to inform citizens in a timely manner about disinformation and digital fraud schemes. Kelber said that this proves that it is necessary to create another reliable information service to satisfy the country's strict data protection rules.
WhatsApp Messenger is a free North American cross-platform messaging service, owned by Facebook, which allows users to send text and voice messages, make voice and video calls, as well as share images, documents, users' locations and other forms of multimedia.

RIA Novosti-Russia