Signal President Meredith Whittaker has defended the messaging app’s security following reports that senior Trump administration officials mistakenly included a journalist in an encrypted group chat discussing US military operations in Yemen, as reported by Reuters.
While Whittaker did not directly comment on the specific incident, she reaffirmed Signal’s standing as the “gold standard in private comms.” In an X post, she emphasized the app’s open-source, non-profit structure and its rigorous application of end-to-end encryption to protect user data, contrasting it with Meta’s WhatsApp.
Signal has seen a surge in popularity across the US and Europe, largely attributed to its minimal data collection practices. According to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, Signal downloads in the US increased by 16% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter, and experienced a 25% year-over-year rise.
In a February interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Whittaker criticized WhatsApp’s metadata collection policies, arguing that even though WhatsApp encrypts messages, it gathers metadata that can reveal communication patterns, such as who communicates with whom and how frequently.
She reiterated in her X post that WhatsApp, when legally compelled, provides this revealing data to authorities.
In response, a WhatsApp spokesperson defended the app’s use of metadata, explaining that it helps prevent spam and ensures user safety. “We do not keep logs of who everyone is messaging or calling, and we do not track personal messages for ads,” the spokesperson stated.
The security of encrypted messaging apps is facing increasing scrutiny as more government officials and journalists rely on these platforms for confidential discussions.
Although Signal is widely considered a highly secure messaging service, the US military leak has reignited discussions about the vulnerabilities inherent in even the most secure platforms.
