Considered A Threat To National Security, Swiss Soldiers Are Prohibited From Using WhatsApp

Swiss soldiers are now banned from using WhatsApp. (photo: doc. Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Swiss army has banned its troops from using Meta's WhatsApp and other popular messaging services, citing privacy concerns. According to www.swissinfo.ch, military staff have been instructed to use Swiss encrypted SMS software 'Threema' instead.

As techstory.in reports, the Swiss Army has also banned the use of Signal and Telegram, in addition to WhatsApp.

“The power of authorities in Washington to access data held by companies that fall under US jurisdiction, as stated in the US CLOUD Act,” according to sources, appears to be a major issue.

According to the report, “The CLOUD Act requires service providers under US jurisdiction to comply with search warrants wherever the server is located.”

Threema is under no obligation to comply with the search order as the company is based in Switzerland. Threema also complies with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (General Data Protection Regulation).

According to a military spokesman quoted in a Tamedia newspaper report, "data security was one of the reasons for the policy change." According to a local survey, WhatsApp is the most popular messenger app among 16 to 64 year olds in Switzerland.

Concerns about military personnel using foreign mobile apps have also emerged in India, as it could compromise security.

After the Indian Army asked its personnel to remove 89 apps, including Facebook, PUBG, Zoom, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tik Tok, among others, after the Center banned several Chinese mobile apps due to security concerns in 2020, the Indian Army asked its personnel to remove 89 apps, including Facebook, PUBG, Zoom, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tik Tok, as well as several dating apps.

The Indian Army has now created 'ASIGMA,' a modern messaging tool (Army Secure Custom Messaging Application).

The application can be used on mobile phones that are connected to the TNI's internal network. According to the defense ministry, "the app is being installed on the Army's internal network as a replacement for the Army Wide Area Network (WAN) messaging app, which had been in use for the previous 15 years."

Last year, Russia's Defense Ministry said it would build smartphones and mobile apps for military forces.

The US military is also having problems with the app. After the launch of America's released Global Exercise Heatmap in 2018, a fitness observer compromised US locations and patrol routes around the world, not by an ambassador, but by a fitness observer.

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