The NSW Police Force announced a ban on the use of social media and encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp on work-issued devices.

The decision follows a report on a 2023 car crash involving a police officer, which revealed that officers were using apps that automatically delete messages, potentially violating record-keeping laws.

Ban will be enforced through new security software on NSW Police devices.

According to a NSW Police Force spokesperson with the software installed, social media and other personal apps won’t and wont be downloadable.

The new directive affects approximately 17,000 police officers, who are now required to remove all social media and messaging apps from their work phones.

The blocks were introduced following the July investigation by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) into the crash involving an unmarked police car in Sydney’s NorthConnex.

Evidence revealed that police officers were using encrypted apps and regularly deleting messages and call records.

The Commission recommended that the NSW Police Commissioner provide guidance to officers on using encrypted applications and managing message deletion on police-issued phones.

In response, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb referred these concerns to the public affairs branch and implemented the recommendation.

Among the now-banned apps is Telegram, which recently announced it would better comply with authorities and provide information under “valid requests.” This marks a notable change for the app, previously known for resisting law enforcement inquiries.

The new changes also follow the arrest of Telegram’s founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, in Paris in August, where he faced charges related to crimes facilitated through the app, including the distribution of child abuse material and hacking software.