As the White House falls under fire for being claimed to use a signal to discuss sensitive foreign policy plans, the encrypted messages platform have already entered the spotlight.
Although the government has officially discouraged federal employees to use the official business app, it has become a decisive tool for many companies, technological enthusiasts and public sharing.
Signal started in 2014 for non-profit iOS devices, Open Whisper Systems, which offers users free encrypted calls and one year later, encrypted instant messages. Encryption conceals data and information, so only those who send and receive messages can read it.
Android version of the app, launched in 2015, both versions are free to download in app stores.
A mobile device shows the logo of the signal company while a laptop displays the web page of the message app on March 25, 2025.
Leon Neil/Getty Images
“The signal is designed to never collect or store sensitive information. Signal messages and calls cannot be available by us or other third parties, as they are always encrypted, private and secure from end to end,” said the company on its website.
Representatives of the Signal Technology Foundation, the non -profit parental purpose, which manages the app, did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
The app registers users through its phone numbers, similar to WhatsApp and Imessage, and provides several options, including the disappearance of messages and protection against screening messages. The signal is advertised that it does not provide user data to corporations and other enterprises.
Signal messages encryption keys are stored on the user’s devices, not on his servers.
Applications have grown with popularity among smartphone users and are popularized by various figures in the technological community, including Edward Snowden.
A mobile device shows the logo of the signal company while a laptop displays the web page of the message app on March 25, 2025.
Leon Neil/Getty Images
Despite its growth, US civil servants are cautious from members who use the official business app.
The Pentagon’s internal guard criticizes the use of a former employee of the 2021 alert application, calling it a violation of “Record Retention Policy” and an unauthorized means of transmitting sensitive information.
The report, which focuses on Bret Goldstein, a former director of the Defense Digital Defense Service, found that Goldstein violated the department’s policies, using a signal “to discuss official information about DOD” and encourage subordinates to communicate with it in the encrypted message.
“The signal was not approved by DOD as an authorized application for electronic communications and voice summoning,” the report said, adding that “the use of a signal to discuss official DOD information does not meet the requirements of the Freedom of Information and Policy Recording Law.”
Goldstein has already announced his plans to leave the civil service until the report was published. According to the report, Goldstein is lobbying the legitimate service of the department to allow him to use the application.
“We recommend that the Minister of Defense take appropriate action regarding the use of Mr Goldstein from unauthorized electronic communications and a voice call application,” the report concludes.
During the hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, the democratic Senator Mark Warren of the CIA Grill John Ratcliffe on his participation in the signal chat. Ratcliffe said he was in chat, but claims that many agency was approved to use a signal.
“One of the first things that happened when I was confirmed, as the CIA director was loaded on my computer in the CIA, as it was for most CIA employees. One of the things I was informed on a very early senator was the CIA people preceding the use of the signal as an eligible use.
Ratcliffe and other intelligence staff who testified did not provide more details about the use of the application or approval of the government to use it.
By 2024, the app had 70 million users worldwide compared to 12 million who used it in 2020, according to the business on the application tracking site.
In 2023, the non -profit target, which was financed through donations and investment of $ 50 million in 2017 by the co -founder of WhatsApp Brian Acton, said $ 50 million a year in a blog publication in 2025.
“Our goal is to move as close as possible to become fully supported by small donors, relying on a large number of modest contributions of people who care for the signal. We believe that this is the most secure form of sustainability: ensuring that we remain responsible for the rejection of the wides The contribution levels, “the company says.
Luke Barr, Cherise Halsall and Nathan Luna have contributed to this report by Luke Barr, Cherise Halsall and Nathan Luna
