Government wants to replace WhatsApp in internal communication

The president of Brazilian Industrial Development Agency (ABDI), Ricardo Cappelli, recently stated that the Brazilian government is outlining plans to bid for a national company that can create an application to replace WhatsApp.

This move aims to replace the widely used WhatsApp for internal communication between government agencies. This decision is based on the need to protect the confidentiality of official communications. As we know, WhatsApp is a tool that belongs to the Metaa company based in the United States.

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Cappelli also highlighted, with a note of concern, that information leaks have been frequent and represent one of the fundamental motivations for this change initiative.

Concern for national sovereignty

In a post on X (formerly Twitter)Cappelli highlighted Brazil’s vulnerability when using foreign apps for official communications:

“Brazil is absolutely exposed. It is not reasonable that high-ranking authorities of the Republic still communicate through a messaging application owned by a foreign company that represents strategic interests that are foreign to the national interest.”

Cappelli, who had been thinking about a national messenger since his time as executive secretary at the Ministry of Justice, emphasized the importance of this measure for national security when he said:

“All of these companies have information sharing agreements with the NSA/CIA and manipulate leaks in light of their interests. Information security is a matter of national sovereignty.”

He also pointed out that the Armed Forces already use a messaging service developed in the country:

“Our Armed Forces already use their own messaging service, developed by a national strategic defense company. Our most senior officers do not communicate through a foreign private company. What is this called? Protection of our sovereignty.”

The decision follows the recent leak involving auxiliary judges of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, where WhatsApp conversations were used in reports that question the legality of acts in the fake news investigation.

Source: S. Paulo Newspaper