US Vice President in Safety Center: Signal chat causes excitement!

US Vice President in Safety Center: Signal chat causes excitement!

Jemen - On March 30, 2025, a security incident in the USA caused excitement. When planning air strikes on the Iranian Houthi rebels in Yemen, a journalist was accidentally inserted into a signal chat group in which US Vice President Vance had a heated discussion. In the group, Vance expressed his displeasure with the repeated support for Europe with the words: "I just hate to help Europe out of trouble again" ( Krone ).

The incident was described by a journalist of the Atlantic, who confirmed that the entire text chain was "authentic" and the National Security Council is currently examining how this unwanted invitation could occur ( AP News ). Signal, the platform on which this conversation took place, is particularly safe because it uses strong end-to-end encryption.

security features of signal

Signal is used particularly often by journalists, oppositional and private individuals to exchange sensitive information. Despite its security features, the app is classified by the US government administration as not safe enough for official communications. Government officials use signal, but it is recommended to use the app sparingly to minimize risks. There are concerns that users could possibly deal with the use of signal laws for open records, since many messages are not available under public information inquiries ( external data protection officer Dresden ).

Signal enables group chats with up to 1,000 participants and offers functions such as self -destructive messages. The encryption at Signal is activated by default, in contrast to Telegram, where it needs to be activated manually. These factors contribute to the increasing popularity of signal in government officials and other users who are concerned about their privacy ( AP News ).

comparison with other messaging services

Compared to other messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram, Signal is considered more secure due to its open source nature and the strong data protection guidelines. While WhatsApp also offers end-to-end encryption, there are concerns about data transfer to Meta, the parent company of Facebook. Telegram stores data in the cloud, which harbors additional security risks ( External data protection officer Dresden ).

The Signal Foundation, founded by Moxie Marlinspike, pursues the goal of securing and promoting the future of private communication. This foundation is financed exclusively through donations and remains ancient-free, which further underlines the focus on data protection ().