Tensions between Iran and Western tech firms have escalated again, as Iranian state media has urged citizens to delete WhatsApp and Instagram, claiming the platforms are transmitting user data to Israel. The warning was issued amid an increasingly volatile security environment in the region.

According to Iranian state television, Meta-owned platforms are allegedly collecting users’ private information (including real-time locations) and sharing it with Israeli intelligence.The allegations come during what digital watchdogs describe as a nationwide information blackout in Iran.

In response, a WhatsApp spokesperson strongly rejected the accusations, labeling them as “false.” The company reiterated that messages on the platform are protected with end-to-end encryption, meaning neither WhatsApp nor third parties can read their content.

However, critics argue that encryption alone may not guarantee full privacy, especially considering that metadata, such as who messaged whom, when, and for how long, remains accessible to the company and potentially vulnerable to external pressure or surveillance efforts.

While Meta maintains it does not provide “bulk data to any government,” cybersecurity experts caution that governments often seek access through indirect channels, such as exploiting vulnerabilities, using spyware, or pressuring tech firms into cooperation.