Ministers banned from sharing 'top secret' material via WhatsApp

Ministers and mandarins are banned from sharing ‘top secret’ material via WhatsApp and text messages amid tightening of rules on information sharing after Matt Hancock leak and other controversies

Ministers and government officials have been officially banned from sharing top secret material via WhatsApp after a string of embarrassing controversies.

New guidance issued today tightens the rules on what can and cannot be shared by unofficial channels like chat apps and text message.

As well as a ban on the most secret material, ministers and mandarins have been told they can continue to share material marked ‘sensitive’ but must take ‘particular care’, and only do so using their own personal devices in exceptional circumstances.

They are warned that ‘in general, it is expected that you use government systems for government business’.

The guidance is the first update of the guidance on use of non-corporate communication channels (NCCCs) in a decade. Many of the platforms involved did not exist then, and the previous material only covered private email accounts.

It comes after the furore over former health secretary Matt Hancock’s leaked WhatsApp messages, which caused the government embarrassment due to the material that was made public, including conversations with Boris Johnson.

And last year Home Secretary Suella Braverman was branded ‘Leaky Sue’ over allegations she shared sensitive information about immigration policy with a right wing ally. 

There are also fears that it is too easy to delete material transferred via electronic means, presenting a record-keeping problem.

The guidance is the first update of the guidance on use of non-corporate communication channels (NCCCs) in a decade. 

It comes after the furore over former health secretary Matt Hancock’s leaked WhatsApp messages, which caused the government embarrassment due to the material that was made public, including conversations with Boris Johnson.

In a written statement put out on the last day of the parliamentary term, Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Dowden said: ‘The new guidance is aimed at ensuring that the government can use non-corporate communication channels when appropriate while considering the record-keeping, transparency, security and data protection implications.’

In a written statement put out on the last day of the parliamentary term, Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Dowden said: ‘The new guidance is aimed at ensuring that the government can use non-corporate communication channels when appropriate while considering the record-keeping, transparency, security and data protection implications.’

The guidance advises that ‘particular care should be applied’ to use of WhatsApp, Signal, private email and text messages via government device ‘if communicating significant government information’, adding: ‘You should use your discretion, exercising professional judgement if communicating any logistical or other non-significant government information.’

Regarding private devices, it adds: ‘You would require exceptional circumstances to justify communicating significant government information; and/or information with additional marking (including information marked-SENSITIVE) requiring additional protective controls or behaviours.’

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