Exclusive: Most Brits Think The Government Shouldn't Use Disappearing WhatsApps

Most Brits think the government should not use disappearing messages on WhatsApp, according to data seen by HuffPost UK. WhatsApp – along with other messaging apps like Signal and Telegram – has an optional private feature which automatically deletes messages from a chat after a set period of time which can range from 24 hours to 90 days. A staggering 96% of Britons say anyone working in government should not be able to have their messages wiped.

That means just 4% of Brits think officials should be free to communicate without records being kept, according to new Opinium polling commissioned by LeapXpert. However, respondents were divided as to how much information should be retained, with 44% saying all work-related communications should be kept. A further 19% said only official communications linked to government business should be kept while 12% said this should only apply to communications about important policy decisions.

Despite these divisions, it’s clear there is widespread concern about accountability. Almost two-thirds (63%) also said they would trust the government less if all officials regularly used disappearing messages for work. A total of 53% oppose ministers using disappearing messages for government business, with just 10% supporting it. Meanwhile, 77% want government communications to be available for scrutiny by investigators, auditors and public inquiries.

Two-thirds (66%) said government officials and employees should use approved communication platforms to automatically record and archive their work-related messages. “The public is sending a clear message: government communications cannot be allowed to disappear without accountability,” co-founder and chief business officer at LeapXpert, Avi Pardo, said. “The technology to make this happen already exists. Organisations across financial services and government worldwide use governed messaging platforms that capture conversations in real time without restricting which channels their people use.

“There is no longer a technical barrier. The question is whether the political will exists to match what the public expects.” Several senior government figures, including ex-prime minister Keir Starmer, were criticised for having their WhatsApps set to disappear earlier this year. It followed heightened scrutiny the government’s decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US, despite his known association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

MPs voted to force the government to publish all documents and communications linked to Mandelson, but there were only a few texts from Starmer. He said at the time he “complied” with the process by handing over the “messages I hold”, adding: “Many people, not just in politics, use disappearing messages.” Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson’s governments were also criticised for not having a clear audit trail with their WhatsApps. Current guidance says disappearing messages are permitted if they do not affect record keeping or transparency.

The government has since launched a formal review into the use of non-corporate channels for official business. Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.