Today, June 18, 2025, Iranian state television appealed to all citizens to immediately remove the WhatsApp application from their devices. The government accused WhatsApp, without providing concrete evidence, of collecting user data and transmitting it to Israel, amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The official news agency IRIB did not disclose substantial proof to support this claim but stated that this measure was taken as a step to protect national security. Similar statements followed a series of internet restrictions and plans for partial global disconnections described by authorities as "measured controls" in response to cyber threats allegedly originating from Israel.
In response to the appeal, WhatsApp—a subsidiary of Meta Platforms—firmly denied the allegations. A WhatsApp spokesperson emphasized that all user messages are protected by end-to-end encryption, and the company does not share user data with any government.
Cybersecurity expert Gregory Falco from the University of Texas explained that, while message content remains encrypted, certain metadata is recorded on central servers. This metadata is what the Iranian government associates with risks of data leaks to foreign parties. Falco also highlighted that WhatsApp's server infrastructure for Iranian users is located abroad, making it difficult for local authorities to exercise full control.
This is not the first time Iran has sought to restrict WhatsApp usage. In 2022, the government blocked WhatsApp and Google Play during widespread protests over Mahsa Amini’s death. Although some services were later restored, many users continued to rely on VPNs to access blocked platforms.
Some observers view this latest directive as part of the Islamic Republic's escalating digital control measures, increasingly limiting access to foreign information. So far, there has been no confirmation whether Telegram—another widely used app in Iran—will be subject to a similar directive.
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