Security News > 2023 > December > French government recommends against using foreign chat apps
Prime Minister of France Élisabeth Borne signed a circular last week requesting all government employees to uninstall foreign communication apps such as Signal, WhatsApp, and Telegram by December 8, 2023, in favor of a French messaging app named 'Olvid.
BleepingComputer discussed the development with French journalists, who clarified that this isn't a ban on using foreign messaging apps but rather a recommendation to switch to locally developed software.
"To counter the threats that arise from using these applications, the French company Olvid has developed instant messaging which guarantees the protection of its users' data thanks to a decentralized directory and end-to-end message encryption while maintaining the same functionalities as current applications."
Security comparisons between Olvid and other messaging apps may be rendered moot due to Olvid's unique distinction of having ANSII "First-level security certification."
The exact reason behind the decision to suggest the use of Olvid within the French government remains unknown, and as French journalist Emile Marzolf told BleepingComputer, not everyone agrees with the PM's instruction.
Previously, in March 2023, the French government followed the example of many other Western countries to ban the use of the TikTok app on state officials' devices over fears of espionage.