US ends investigation into claims WhatsApp chats aren’t private

A US agency abruptly closed an investigation into allegations that Meta Platforms can access encrypted WhatsApp messages, said two people familiar with the matter, ending a law enforcement inquiry into claims that challenge how the company markets the chat service’s privacy.

The probe was shut down soon after a Commerce Department investigator contacted other federal officials early this year to share his conclusions “thus far” and try to coordinate ongoing investigative work, according to records seen by Bloomberg News and the people. They spoke on condition that they and the agent not be identified because they weren’t authorized to discuss the matter and were concerned about retaliation.