Judge to probe ministers using WhatsApp for work

MINISTERS and Whitehall officials are to face a full judicial review over their use of WhatsApp to conduct official government business.

A High Court judge yesterday gave the green light to transparency campaigners to prove the Cabinet Office had acted unlawfully in doing so. In the first case of its kind, they will argue that crucial policy decisions are being decided on the messaging service – but are then deleted. Boris Johnson has previously been accused of overseeing ‘Government by WhatsApp’, with claims the ‘entire’ pandemic response was conducted over the encrypted messaging service – prompting the Information Commissioner to launch a probe into the use of private correspondence channels in Westminster.

Yesterday, The Citizens, and Foxglove, who brought the case, said they looked forward to proving the Government’s use of the app for official business violates the Public Records Act of 1958. During yesterday’s hearing it emerged that a confidential Cabinet Office policy stated ministers and officials were required to set internal chats to delete at the end of every conversation.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: ‘Ministers will use a range of modern forms of communication for discussions, in line with legislative requirements, and taking into account government guidance.’