The state television service of Iran has warned Iranians that WhatsApp and Instagram are collecting information about users and sending it to Israel, reports The New York Times. Both platforms are owned by Meta. WhatsApp responded with a statement that insisted they do not track the precise location of users or provide bulk information to any government.
Per a translation from the NYT, the Iranian television news stated:
WhatsApp and Instagram are collecting information about individuals and are providing the Zionist enemy with their last known location and communications, tagged with the names of individuals
Israel may well have sophisticated communications surveillance capabilities but no evidence was provided to back Iran’s claims. The end-to-end encryption provided by comms services like WhatsApp is a robust defense against state-sponsored surveillance of any kind, which is why several governments have pressured WhatsApp and other providers of encrypted communications to create back doors.
Iran’s security forces are known to have systematic surveillance access to the telecoms services provided by telcos operating in the country. In 2022, a hacker leaked a manual describing the APIs that Iranian telcos must implement to permit the authorities unrestricted access to user data.
WhatsApp highlighted the likeliest explanation for the TV news warning: to discourage Iranians from privately sharing information with each other. Per WhatsApp’s statement:
We’re concerned these false reports will be an excuse for our services to be blocked at a time when people need them the most
Various sources report there has been widespread interruptions to internet services within Iran. This disruption is probably being orchestrated by the Iranian authorities in order to inhibit the spread of information about military strikes conducted by Israel and the USA.
Internet blackouts have previously occurred in Iran around times of civil disobedience. There were internet blackouts in 2022 following protests about the death of a woman in police custody. Internet access was also restricted in 2019 following public anger at the overnight tripling of fuel prices.
WhatsApp has a history of fighting proposals to undermine its encryption while supporting privacy advocates who want to avoid comms surveillance. At the beginning of 2023 they launched proxy support for WhatsApp that was specifically designed to counter internet shutdowns.
