Leaked Yemen War Chat on Signal Sparks Security Concerns Among US Officials:

A major controversy has emerged after US defense officials were found discussing potential military action in Yemen over Signal, an encrypted messaging app—unintentionally including The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg in the group. The incident has triggered alarms over the use of encrypted apps for sensitive discussions and possible mishandling of classified information.

Journalist Added to Encrypted Group Chat on Signal

The White House confirmed Monday that Goldberg was mistakenly added to a Signal chat group titled “Houthi PC small group” on March 13, where high-level US officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz were discussing planned strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

In a report, Goldberg revealed that the chat contained operational military details such as targets, weapon choices, and attack sequencing. While it is unclear whether the information was technically classified, such discussions are typically considered sensitive under national security protocols.

How Signal Works: Encryption, Privacy, and Public Trust

The incident has cast renewed attention on Signal's features:

End-to-End Encryption: Messages are encrypted on the sender’s device and decrypted only on the recipient’s, making them unreadable to third parties—including Signal itself.

Open Source: Signal’s code is publicly available, ensuring transparency and peer-reviewed security.

Used by 70+ Million People Globally: Widely trusted by journalists, activists, and officials for private communication.

Signal’s website states:

“Every message, every call, every time—Signal uses end-to-end encryption to keep your conversations secure. We can’t read your messages or listen to your calls, and no one else can either.”

Legal Ramifications and Record-Keeping Concerns

Under US federal law, mishandling or disclosing classified information can be a criminal offense. The usage of auto-disappearing messages in the Signal chat raises questions about compliance with federal record-keeping regulations, especially when used by government officials.

On March 14, former representative Tulsi Gabbard posted on X that unauthorized release of classified information is a legal violation, and called for accountability. Gabbard is scheduled to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on March 26 regarding global threats and intelligence oversight.

Washington’s Encrypted Network Culture Under Scrutiny

Created by Moxie Marlinspike, Signal has evolved from a niche app for dissidents into a communication hub within Washington's officialdom. However, Signal is not hosted on government servers and does not use US-approved encryption, making its use for official discussions a legal grey area.

Democratic lawmakers have criticized the use of Signal for official communication and are demanding a formal investigation into potential breaches of national security and information policy.