French government officials will no longer be able to use popular messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, according to a recent report by BFMTV, the official channel of the French government. The decision was signed by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and requires all government applications for sending messages to be removed by December 8. The reason behind this move is that these apps have not been approved by the French National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (ANSSI). In a statement, it was highlighted that while these apps play a significant role in daily communication, especially for exchanging sensitive information, they are considered far from secure.

To address this issue, government officials are encouraged to switch to a French messaging app called Olvid. This app is the only officially recognized messaging platform that has obtained a security certificate from ANSSI. What sets Olvid apart is that it does not require a SIM card or a phone number to function, ensuring a higher level of privacy and security.