Select a region
There are no plans to ban the use of WhatsApp for government business in Jersey after a review led by the former Channel Islands data protection commissioner prompted the Scottish government to prohibit the use of the messaging platform for official communications.
Emma Martins' review looked at the use of WhatsApp and personal devices to conduct government business.
It was commissioned by former First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf earlier this year after after the UK Covid inquiry revealed officials and ministers had deleted WhatsApp messages exchanged during the pandemic.
Ms Martins' report found there was "little to evidence a consistent and widespread knowledge, understanding, or application" of mobile messaging apps, "including rules around retention, exportation, and deletion".
Pictured: The independent review into the use of mobile messaging apps was led by former Channel Islands data protection commissioner Emma Martins.
The Scottish government's policy required ministers and officials to transcribe "salient" points from business discussions on mobile messaging apps
Ms Martins said: "In the absence of any information about how much or how often such transcribing took place, it is impossible to take any comfort from the policy."
While she acknowledged the "unprecedented challenges" of the pandemic could lead to the circumvention of some government rules, she said it was not "acceptable" for changes to procedures to remain in place "without proper scrutiny and review".
As a result, the Scottish Government has announced a major policy shift to cease the use of mobile messaging apps, including WhatsApp, on official devices by spring 2025.
Express asked whether the Government of Jersey will look at banning the use of WhatsApp for official States business too.
In response, the Government said: "The Government of Jersey social media policy is under review.
"There are no current plans to ban the use of WhatsApp for official business."
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.