In a surprising turn of events, sensitive military strategies regarding Iranian-backed militants in Yemen were inadvertently disclosed to a journalist when Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic, found himself included in a group chat on the messaging platform Signal. This incident unfolded as top officials from the Trump administration communicated in real-time about ongoing military operations.
Goldberg recounted his initial disbelief upon receiving the Signal invitation from Mike Waltz, who served as President Donald Trump’s national security advisor. The chat also featured prominent figures such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Tulsi Gabbard, who held the position of director of national intelligence.
While a spokesperson from the White House National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the chat, Hegseth downplayed the situation, stating, “Nobody was texting war plans and that’s all I have to say about that.” President Trump, known for his criticism of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server, distanced himself from the incident, expressing his discontent with The Atlantic instead. The situation has sparked calls for accountability from Democratic lawmakers.
In a somewhat ironic twist, Moxie Marlinspike, co-founder of Signal’s parent company Open Whisper Systems, took to social media to promote the app, highlighting its unexpected role in high-stakes military coordination. “There are so many great reasons to be on Signal,” he quipped, “Now including the opportunity for the vice president of the United States of America to randomly add you to a group chat for coordination of sensitive military operations.”
1. Signal is free and encrypted
Signal is a free, open-source messaging application that boasts end-to-end encryption, making it a popular choice for secure communications. Users can engage in instant messaging, voice, and video calls, accommodating up to 40 participants. The app supports various media formats, including text messages, images, and videos, while also offering features like message scheduling and automatic deletion timers.
Designed to protect users from surveillance, Signal requires a phone number for account creation, yet allows users to conceal their numbers from others. Notably, it does not store user data or metadata, ensuring a high level of privacy and security.
2. Signal started out as two different apps
Originally developed by Whisper Systems, Signal emerged from two separate applications: RedPhone for voice calls and TextSecure for messaging. After being acquired by Twitter in 2011, both apps were released as open-source software. Marlinspike later founded Open Whisper Systems to enhance and unify these applications into what we now know as Signal.
3. Signal is popular among activists, revolutionaries, politicians, journalists, criminals
Signal has gained traction among various groups, including activists and dissidents who require secure communication channels during political upheavals. The app has also been utilized to document human rights abuses and facilitate anonymous communication between whistleblowers and journalists. Its reputation for security has made it a favored tool among politicians and business leaders, with Signal Foundation President Meredith Whittaker noting its widespread adoption in Washington, D.C.
4. Signal use might violate Presidential Records Act
Despite its encryption capabilities, the use of Signal for government communications raises concerns regarding compliance with the Presidential Records Act, which mandates that federal officials utilize approved channels for work-related communications. Experts have pointed out that discussing classified information on a public messaging platform could constitute a serious breach of protocol.
5. Signal use might violate federal law
Furthermore, the Federal Records Act stipulates that government documents must be preserved for public access, unless classified. Messages exchanged on unofficial platforms like Signal should be transferred to official accounts to ensure compliance with record-keeping requirements. Reports indicate that some messages in the military strategy chat were set to disappear after a week, raising questions about their preservation.
As the implications of this incident unfold, it serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between secure communication and adherence to legal protocols in government operations.
