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US authorities can access WhatsApp messages despite end-to-end encryption: Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg. [File Photo]

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has revealed that US authorities, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), can access WhatsApp messages by physically compromising devices, despite the app’s end-to-end encryption.

Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Zuckerberg explained that while WhatsApp’s encryption prevents Meta servers from viewing message content, this protection does not cover data stored directly on users’ devices.

“The purpose of encryption is to ensure that the service provider cannot see the message content. With WhatsApp, Meta servers never access the contents of your messages,” Zuckerberg said. However, he noted that authorities can bypass encryption by exploiting device vulnerabilities.

The discussion also touched on journalist Tucker Carlson’s claims that U.S. intelligence agencies, such as the NSA and CIA, interfered with his plans to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin by accessing his private messages and leaking them to disrupt the process.

Zuckerberg highlighted tools like Pegasus spyware that enable agencies to bypass encryption by directly accessing stored data, including messages, photos, and call logs. In response to such risks, WhatsApp is implementing features like disappearing messages, which automatically delete chats after a set time to minimize sensitive data storage on devices.

“If someone compromises your phone, they can see everything as it arrives. Encryption combined with disappearing messages offers better privacy and security,” Zuckerberg said.

While encryption secures messages during transmission, governments argue it can hinder efforts to combat crime and terrorism. A 2021 FBI document confirmed agencies can access encrypted communications on platforms like WhatsApp and iMessage through methods like cloud backups or device compromise.

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