Human Error and Public Accounts Put National Security at Risk

In a series of embarrassing blunders, high-ranking government officials have inadvertently shared top-secret information on commercial messaging apps, compromising national security.

The most recent incident involves U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who shared sensitive details about military plans to attack the Houthis in Yemen on an unauthorized Signal group chat. The chat included Hegseth’s lawyer, wife, and brother, who had no need-to-know clearance.

This is not the first time Hegseth has mishandled sensitive information. Earlier this year, he shared similar details on another Signal chat, which included his wife and brother.

Hegseth’s tech mishaps are not isolated incidents. Other government officials, including National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, have also shared sensitive information on commercial messaging apps.

The Risks of Public Accounts

The fitness tracking app Strava has been criticized for its public account feature, which allows users to share their exercise logs with friends. However, this feature can also compromise the location of military personnel stationed at secret bases.

In 2018, Strava unveiled a global heat map, showing where public users have logged activities. This map can be used to identify hotspots of activity, potentially revealing the location of military bases.

Venmo’s Public Sharing

Venmo, a peer-to-peer payments app, defaults to publicly sharing transactions. This means that users can see the financial activity of others, including government officials.

In 2021, BuzzFeed News reporters were able to find Joe Biden’s Venmo account within 10 minutes of searching. From Biden’s account, they were able to identify other members of his family and administration.

The Limits of Encryption

Even with encrypted messaging apps, human error can compromise sensitive information. In 2017, a Spanish broadcaster caught a former Catalan health minister texting with his screen fully visible, exposing a message from the former president of Catalonia.

These incidents highlight the importance of being cautious when sharing sensitive information on commercial messaging apps. Even with the best intentions, human error can have serious consequences.

The Need for Caution

Government officials and the public must be aware of the risks associated with sharing sensitive information on commercial messaging apps. By taking simple precautions, such as checking privacy settings and being mindful of public accounts, we can reduce the risk of compromising national security.

Sources

The Atlantic: “The Catastrophic Tech Flubs of Pete Hegseth”

The New York Times: “Hegseth Shared Information About Attacks on Yemen in Another Signal Chat”

BuzzFeed News: “We Found Joe Biden’s Venmo Account in 10 Minutes”

Strava: “Global Heat Map”

Venmo: “Public Sharing”