NatWest Implements Ban on Messaging Apps for Staff on Company Devices

NatWest Group has prohibited the use of messaging services such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Skype on its company devices within the UK. This measure is intended to prevent employees from using these platforms for internal communication. The bank had previously directed its staff to utilize “approved channels” for all business-related discussions. However, the policy has now been extended to make these applications inaccessible on work phones and computers. The issue of so-called off-channel communications represents an ongoing challenge in both corporate and political environments. Concerns exist that services like WhatsApp may be used to reduce the scrutiny that certain conversations would otherwise undergo. Messages sent via these platforms can be difficult to retrieve or may even be configured to disappear, whereas communications sent through approved channels are fully retrievable and can be examined in cases of suspected wrongdoing. In an official statement, NatWest affirmed, “Like many organisations, we only permit the use of approved channels for communicating about business matters, whether internally or externally.” The group also confirmed that this policy adjustment came into effect earlier this month. Over the past few years, banks in the US have incurred fines totaling more than $2.8 billion (£2.18 billion) for violations of record-keeping regulations, often stemming from employees’ inability to retrieve old messages from certain messaging services. JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Citigroup are among the institutions that have faced these penalties. It was reported in August that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK’s banking regulator, is considering an investigation into how bank employees use messaging services. This follows a fine issued by Ofgem, the energy regulator, to Morgan Stanley concerning calls made on private phones via WhatsApp, which breached record-keeping rules. Outside of the banking sector, issues have also arisen regarding staff use of apps in the public sector, with questions surrounding how ministers have utilized WhatsApp for government business in recent years. The UK Covid inquiry revealed that officials and ministers had deleted WhatsApp messages exchanged during the pandemic. This included then-prime minister Boris Johnson, with then-cabinet member Penny Mordaunt informing the inquiry that two years of messages with him had disappeared. Johnson himself told the inquiry that he had lost approximately 5,000 messages. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.