THERE are no plans to ban the use of WhatsApp for government business in Jersey after a review led by a former Channel Islands data protection commissioner prompted the Scottish government to prohibit the use of the messaging platform for official communications.
But Jersey’s government said it was reviewing its social media policy.
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 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”.
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.
The JEP’s sister publication Bailiwick Express asked whether Jersey’s government would also look at banning the use of WhatsApp for official business.
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.”
