Is WhatsApp becoming a weapon of war?

Tensions between Israel and Iran are rippling into digital space, and WhatsApp is drawn into the middle. On June 17, 2025, Iranian state television instructed citizens to remove WhatsApp, claiming that without providing solid evidence, the meta-owned messaging app is helping Israel find Iranian military personnel by tracking down the “last known location” of users.

According to Iran, data shared by WhatsApp led to a fatal Israeli airstrike that killed a senior official, 11 Iranian generals and nuclear scientists. WhatsApp was pushed back, using end-to-end encryption, reiterating collection of exact locations and not handing over large amounts of user data to the government. But the company’s statement, although prompt, wasn’t airtight to be precise, now faces new scrutiny about how safe the app is in fact in wartime.

Iran’s state broadcaster Ilib on Tuesday urged citizens to delete WhatsApp, claiming that the app would collect user personal data, including “the last known location and communication” and hand it over to Israel, according to a report by the Times of Israel.

Iran’s claim: scapegoating or something?

The charges came days after they hit an Israeli strike targeting Israeli attacks, including Natanz. Among the victims were important military figures such as Hossein Salami and Ali Shadmani. Iranian state media has pointed their fingers to WhatsApp and Instagram, claiming that they are focusing on user data (including identity and geographical allocation) in Israel.

Iran provided no technical evidence. There is no forensic evidence. There are no intercepted logs. It will not withstand serious scrutiny. But that didn’t stop the government from launching full crackdowns, restricting foreign apps, or promoting domestic alternatives like beeps when the country enters an internet blackout.

Many view this as a repeat of 2022. Iran banned whatsapp during Mahsa Amini protests to curb the objections. There are differences of opinion on social media. Some users have argued that this is a smokescreen to cover Iran’s own military failure. Others believe WhatsApp is being used as a spy tool, whether intentional or not. In any case, the fear of digital surveillance has not been compensated, especially during the war.

WhatsApp response: Clear or useful?

Whatsapp spoke to news outlets, including the Times of Israel and CBS News, calling the claims false and warning that Iran may be using them as an excuse to block the app at critical times. The company highlighted the use of end-to-end encryption. This means that the message is locked to a digital envelope that can only be opened by the sender and receiver.

In a statement, a WhatsApp spokesman said, “We are concerned that these false reports will be blocked when people need us the most.”

“We don’t track your exact location. We don’t maintain logs of people who are messaging, and we don’t track the personal messages people are sending to each other,” Spokerson added. “We don’t provide a ton of information to the government.”

WhatsApp: Israeli secret weapon or Iranian digital scapegoat?

But there was a catch. WhatsApp didn’t specifically address the “last known location” accusations. The company also claims it does not store message logs or track accurate locations, but it collects metadata. It’s about data. This includes the timestamp, phone number, IP address, and who sent the message to whom.

Metadata is less detailed than message content, but is useful for pattern analysis. It can reveal behavior, social networks, and approximate movements. According to cybersecurity expert Gregory Falco, metadata is often more than enough for intelligence operations.

Add to whatsapp’s misuse history. A few years ago, an Israeli startup NSO group featured how to deploy Pegasus Spyware using app vulnerabilities, targeting over 1,400 users. In January 2025, Meta accused another Israeli company, Paragon Solution, of using a “zero click” exploit for its hijacking account. No user interaction is required. These cases have not proven that WhatsApp is conspiring, but show that even a secure system can be weaponized by sophisticated actors.

The NSO Group was founded in 2009 by Shalev Hulio, a graduate of the Elite IDF Intelligence Unit 8200. Hulio was previously commander of the Israeli Defense Forces. Ravi was an employee of the Israeli government.

Double-edged design for WhatsApp

With over 2 billion users worldwide, WhatsApp is more than a chat app. This is a lifeline. It is especially important in countries with unreliable internet and strict government control. The app’s simple phone number-based system and ability to work with low bandwidth make it a go-to tool for everything from casual texting to organize protests.

Its most powerful feature is end-to-end encryption with signal protocols, and is widely considered to be one of the most secure messaging frameworks. Even WhatsApp itself can’t read the message. But that doesn’t mean it’s bulletproof.

The app is tied to a phone number, exposes the user’s actual identity and social connection. And while the encrypted messages remain private, the metadata can still be exploited. Combined with IP addresses and other data points, it can provide a rough sketch of who, who, and when.

Political, WhatsApp has been on fire before. Countries like India and Brazil have been criticized for helping to spread misinformation. A 2024 report by Truthout claimed that the Israeli AI system used WhatsApp metadata to target Palestinians in Gaza. Iranian officials have argued that WhatsApp’s parent company Meta has demonstrated pro-Israel bias across the platform. With WhatsApp’s infrastructure hosted outside of Iran, the government fears foreign jurisdictions will have access under legal pressure.

That said, none of these claims confirms that Meta is actively working with the government. Still, encryption is useless if your device is hacked or compromised. If the phone is in the hands of a state actor or infected with spyware, the protection of the app is not important.

Has WhatsApp helped Israel’s strike?

A simple answer: Probably, but not necessarily through direct cooperation.

Technically, Israel could use whatsapp metadata to combine it with other intelligence sources such as device hacks and informants to track high-value targets. And Israel has a track record of stopping this type of operation thanks to sophisticated cyber units.

But so far, there is no official evidence that WhatsApp will hand over anything. Without evidence of violation or secret agreement, the Iranian case will not be retained. More likely, WhatsApp is being used as a handy scapegoat to justify internal crackdowns and distract you from Iran’s vulnerability to cyber surveillance.

Big picture: Digital privacy during the wartime

This isn’t just about WhatsApp. It’s about what happens when civilian apps become part of a military conflict. Tools built for communication can easily be converted into surveillance weapons for political purposes.

Iran’s crackdown will fulfill two goals. This is about enhancing criticism and control. But repulsion can be important. In a country where people are already suffering from censorship, losing access to WhatsApp blocks important lines to the outside world.

At the same time, Meta faces another challenge. We defend the reliability of our messaging platform. Trust is important for users in high-risk regions. And while WhatsApp encryption is strong, trust does not rely solely on technical security. It depends on the perception that their conversations are not weaponized.

Whatsapp for crosshairs

In the digital standoffs of Israel and Iran, WhatsApp has become a symbol of both freedom and risk. For dissidents and activists, it’s a lifeline. For governments, it is a threat and an opportunity according to the agenda.

As long as these geopolitical tensions continue, WhatsApp and similar platforms will continue to land in the centre. And the question is not whether the app is “safe” but whether the platform can remain truly neutral in a world where data is ammunition.

What is end-to-end encryption?

End-to-end encryption is like a private conversation in a sealed room. Even the person who built the room cannot eavesdrop. Messages are scrambled on mobile phones, travelling the internet in its difficult-to-read form, and not scrambled only when they reach the person they are talking to. Even WhatsApp can’t see what the content is. The system used by WhatsApp is called Signal Protocol and is considered the gold standard for messaging security.

Disclaimer: This article uses publicly available information. Neither the Iranian allegations nor WhatsApp’s involvement in intelligence reporting services have been independently verified.