Encrypted Chaos: The Signal Leak and Its Fallout in Washington

Defense and Dual-Use Technology

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Problems are compounding for the White House this week, as the President calls the legitimate concerns over a significant spillage of potentially classified information a “witch hunt”. As more information continues to surface around the National Security Council’s Principles Committee using the messaging app Signal to deliberate on executing strikes on a senior Houthi leader in Yemen, followed by the Secretary of Defense texting out the mission timeline in the chat, pressure continues to mount on the Administration to provide answers.

A week or so before the incident, diplomats in Kyiv were scolded for using the app. In the days immediately following the text chain, the Pentagon itself issued a warning about hackers targeting the Signal app. Now, it’s come to light that information in the text chain further revealed where sensitive intelligence originated—from Israeli intelligence services. Nevertheless, administration officials continue to abide by the mantra, “deny…