Why did Iran ask all to delete WhatsApp? The answer is: war, fear, and the state’s tightening grip on digital communication.
Amidst its escalating conflict with Israel, the Iranian government has urged citizens to delete WhatsApp, claiming the app is leaking sensitive data to Israeli intelligence. Though no technical evidence has been provided, state broadcasters have described WhatsApp as a “national security threat,” alleging it transmits user metadata to foreign actors.
The warning, delivered through primetime news bulletins and official channels, comes as both nations continue to exchange missile strikes, with cyber warfare now seen as a parallel battleground.
Iran’s Ministry of Information has stopped short of an outright ban but has strongly “advised” users to uninstall the app “for their own safety.”
Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, swiftly dismissed the claims as false.
“WhatsApp does not share data with Israel or any other government,” a company spokesperson said, emphasising the platform’s end-to-end encryption and strict privacy policy.
Observers say Iran’s fears may stem less from message content– which is encrypted– and more from metadata: who’s contacting whom, when, and from where. This information, while not visible to other users, can potentially be analysed for intelligence purposes– particularly during wartime.
Iran has previously used periods of unrest to restrict access to foreign messaging apps, redirecting users toward state-approved platforms with built-in surveillance capabilities. Since the WhatsApp warning, internet speeds have noticeably slowed across major cities, and VPN usage is reportedly surging.
With no official ban yet in place, many Iranians remain online– but uncertain. As missile sirens wail and networks falter, the battle for control now extends to the phones in people’s hands.