POLITICO Tech
Why you shouldn’t share ‘war plans’ on Signal
Mar 27, 2025
Graham Brookie, vice president of technology programs at the Atlantic Council and former National Security Council advisor, dives into the risks of sharing sensitive information on commercial apps like Signal. He discusses the blurred lines of what constitutes classified information and warns against the inherent vulnerabilities of using personal messaging for government communications. Brookie emphasizes the critical need for secure channels to protect national security, especially following the recent leak of military operations.
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Quick takeaways
- Using commercial messaging apps like Signal for sensitive military communications poses severe risks and undermines established secure protocols.
- The SignalGate incident highlights critical governance issues, as disappearing messages challenge compliance with transparency laws like the Presidential Records Act.
Deep dives
Security Risks of Using Signal for Sensitive Communications
Using the Signal messaging app for sensitive government communications poses significant security risks. While Signal is considered secure for everyday users, its use by high-level officials for national security discussions is problematic. The U.S. government has established secure communication protocols for operations involving sensitive information, which are far more robust than what a commercial app can offer. Employing Signal for planning military operations, such as counterterrorism strikes, raises concerns about potential surveillance by adversaries such as Russia or China.
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