Government ministers given new guidance on using WhatsApp

The Cabinet Office has issued new guidance on the use of WhatsApp and other private messaging apps for government business. The guidance applies to ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors and independent experts advising ministers.

What does the guidance say?

• Departments should reduce the need for non-corporate communication channels, including WhatsApp, Signal, private email, text messages and private messaging on social media platforms like Facebook, “as far as reasonably practicable”.
• Any use of non-corporate communication channels for significant government business should be captured into government systems to help accountability.
• Ministers and officials should use private messaging apps “with care” and never for information classified as “secret”.

Why is this guidance important?

The use of private messaging apps by government ministers and officials has been a source of concern in recent years. There have been reports of ministers using WhatsApp to discuss key decisions during the Covid pandemic, and of officials using private email to share sensitive information.

This new guidance is an attempt to address these concerns and ensure that government business is conducted in a transparent and accountable way. It is also a reminder that ministers and officials have a responsibility to protect sensitive information.

Read more about the new guidance in our recent article

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