Iranian state authorities have issued a stark directive to their citizens, urging them to uninstall WhatsApp from their devices. This move comes amidst allegations, broadcast through state media, of data sharing between the Meta-owned messaging application and Israeli intelligence services. The order signifies an escalation in Tehran’s long-standing efforts to regulate foreign technology platforms, particularly in light of renewed military hostilities with Israel.

The warning is delivered against a backdrop of intensifying military exchanges between Iran and Israel. The current conflict, which has now entered its sixth day, was sparked by a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military installations beginning June 12. These actions prompted Iran to launch retaliatory missile and drone attacks, with the escalating violence claiming over 200 lives from both sides. Concurrently, Iran has reportedly implemented targeted internet restrictions, impacting civilian access and fueling concerns of a more pervasive cyber siege.

Iran’s official Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) explicitly alleged that WhatsApp is actively collecting sensitive user data, specifically