tech
White House app auto-downloads to government phones, can't be uninstalled
“It’s shooting pure unadulterated propaganda into our veins,” says one worker.
TL;DR
- The White House app is automatically downloaded onto government employees' work phones and cannot be deleted.
- Federal workers, speaking anonymously, expressed distress and inability to uninstall the app.
- The app offers "real-time updates, live events, and direct access to the Presidency," including a "text President Trump" option.
- Content includes White House posts, Trump's Truth Social posts, videos from official social media, and news articles from outlets like Fox and Breitbart, described by one employee as "pure unadulterated propaganda."
- Cybersecurity experts flagged concerns, including initial sharing of location and IP addresses with third parties.
- The app was developed by 45Press, which received significant government contracts.
- The app incorporated widgets from Elfsight, a Russian company, which potentially exposed personal information of White House officials.
- Employees worry about the app's vulnerabilities affecting their work devices, especially those used for communication with foreign contacts.
- White House spokesperson Olivia Wales stated the app is safe and secure and that government devices often have pre-installed apps.
- Many employees report rarely using their work phones or not having the app installed on their devices, and none are actively using it.