Photo: ERA. Discusses the use of Signal for US national security.
Behind the scenes of official offices and classified communication systems is Signal, an ordinary open-access messenger that has suddenly become an informal platform for discussing key US national security issues. According to Politico, citing four informants, Donald Trump’s national security adviser Mike Volz’s team has set up at least 20 group chats on Signal to discuss Ukraine, China, Gaza and the Middle East.
Informal but systematic practice
According to the sources, the use of Signal in Volz’s team was a common practice. One of the interlocutors claims that “all communication of the National Security Council was actually built in Signal”. Others confirmed that the chats involved both senior officials and employees from various government agencies.
The discussions focused on the most sensitive topics, including US policy towards Ukraine, strategic challenges from China, and the dynamics of the conflict in the Middle East. Although it has not been officially confirmed that classified information was shared, all four sources said that the messages contained confidential details related to the workings of the US national security system.
Is Signal a temporary solution or the new normal?
National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes acknowledged that Signal is approved for use on government devices. Some agencies even install the app automatically. According to him, the app is allowed to be used for unclassified data, provided that the user stores messages in accordance with legal requirements.
“This is just one of the approved methods of communication, not the main one or the priority one,” Hughes said, stressing that Signal was used under both the Trump and Biden administrations.
A precedent with future consequences?
Using Signal to coordinate national security raises questions not only about transparency but also about cybersecurity. On the one hand, Signal has a reputation as one of the most secure messengers in the world. On the other hand, such “shadow government” may leave critical decisions outside the scope of official documentation and control.
This precedent is particularly resonant in the context of the upcoming Trump campaign and a possible new wave of changes in US security policy – in particular, regarding the war in Ukraine, China and Washington’s global role.
