The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has told the government to conduct a review into the systemic risks and areas for improvement surrounding the use of private correspondence channels, such as WhatsApp, private email and other messaging apps by ministers and government officials.
According to the data protection watchdog, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), which was the main focus of its review, used these channels frequently, posing real risks to government accountability and transparency.
It said the DHSC did not have the “appropriate organisational or technical controls” to ensure that risks were properly managed. As a result, it has asked for a government-wide examination of how such channels are used across Whitehall.
