Federal employees are shifting their communication habits away from mainstream social media platforms due to growing privacy concerns and distrust, particularly regarding platforms like Facebook and its Messenger service.
Multiple federal workers have reported moving sensitive conversations to encrypted messaging platforms like Signal, citing fears about data security and potential government surveillance. This shift comes amid heightened tensions in the federal workforce and concerns about technology companies' relationships with the current administration.
"I have to have two separate conversations with someone over two different platforms," revealed one U.S. Agency for International Development employee, who requested anonymity. "But that's how wary people are of trusting their messages."
The distrust stems partly from tech companies' past actions and their perceived alignment with political interests. Federal workers expressed particular concern about Meta's track record of complying with government data requests. In the first half of 2024, Meta reportedly fulfilled 85% of over 14,000 government subpoena requests for user data in the United States.
Some federal employees now maintain strict separation between personal and work-related communications, keeping casual exchanges on traditional platforms while moving potentially sensitive discussions to encrypted channels. Many have also adopted additional security measures, such as using anonymous usernames and enabling message auto-deletion features.
Privacy experts emphasize that these concerns aren't unfounded. "When you have companies that are functioning as large data dragnets, they could be an incredibly rich target for agencies trying to investigate or retaliate against federal employees," explained Darío Maestro from the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project.
The trend affects workplace communication as well. Federal workers report becoming more guarded in their day-to-day exchanges, with many avoiding previously common workplace discussions about leadership or policy matters in standard communication channels.
This shift in communication habits impacts a substantial portion of the American workforce, as federal government employees represent nearly 2% of all U.S. workers. As privacy concerns persist, the migration to more secure communication platforms appears likely to continue among federal workers seeking to protect their digital conversations.