Meta (META, Financials) expressed concern that Iran may move to block WhatsApp following claims by Iranian state media that the messaging platform is being used by Israel for surveillance. The U.S. tech company strongly denied the allegations, calling them “false reports,” and warned they could be used as a pretext to restrict access to its services at a critical time.
Meta said, “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.” The company emphasized that WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, meaning that neither Meta nor third parties can access the contents of messages. It also clarified that it does not track users' exact locations or log who is messaging whom.
The statement came in response to Iran's state-run IRNA urging citizens to delete WhatsApp, claiming the “Zionist regime” is exploiting the app to gather private data. In a broadcast shared by Rudaw, an IRNA host warned viewers about potential surveillance targeting individuals linked to sensitive sectors, including nuclear science.
While Meta confirmed it does not provide bulk data to any government, it acknowledged that metadata—such as contacts and device information—can be shared under specific legal requests. Meta also pointed to over a decade of transparency reports outlining such disclosures.
WhatsApp, along with Instagram, was previously banned in Iran in 2022 during nationwide protests. That ban was lifted two months later as part of reforms introduced by President Masoud Pezeshkian to expand internet freedoms.
