Signalgate? The cabinet in The Hague is still on WhatsApp

With ‘surprise’, Prime Minister Dick Schoofed the Signal Lek in the United States last week. Journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a private chat group with Vice President JD Vance, Minister of Defense Pete Hegseeth and the National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Yesterday, research by the American news platform showed Polrico That Waltz has set up more than twenty work -related group discussions on Signal.

The guidelines for the digital communication of the Dutch cabinet are « completely clear », according to Schoof, former director at the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD). But what are those guidelines, and how well is the mutual consultation of ministers and state secretaries protected? Four questions.

1. Does the Dutch cabinet communicate with ordinary apps?

Yes, among other things. The Schoof cabinet has a joint WhatsApp group. But agricultural minister Femke Wiersma (BBB) ​​says that « no in -depth substantive things » are discussed in this. The group chat is mainly intended to keep each other ‘informed’.

Minister of Justice and Security, David van Weel (VVD) is in ‘around eight’ work -related group scale, he says. A communication group app, for example, in which press releases are forwarded and ‘reaction lines’ of the minister are discussed. « There is nothing secret about that, » says Van Weel.

Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Judith Uitermark (NSC) also calls WhatsApp « useful ». Uitermark says that the means of communication may be used by ministers, but not for ‘confidential information’, nor for ‘decision -making’.

2. Can cabinet members assist themselves according to the guidelines?

Yes, under certain conditions. The integrity code for digital resources (2022) from the Handbook for ministers prescribes that ministers must be reluctant using their private email or commercial message apps for work-related purposes. In general, the ministers are « seriously discouraged. »

But there is room for practical situations where « deviations » may be if a minister considers this necessary. Agricultural minister Wiersma, for example, calls the use of commercial message apps « inevitable in these types of functions » – as long as « no unwanted participants » are added to group exchange, such as in the US.

At the beginning of last year, the House of Representatives took one motion From NSC MP Sandra Palmen for the use of special, safe chat applications by ministers and officials. That call was inspired by France, where the government already uses the specially designed Chatsapps Olvid and Tchap. The latter is currently being experimented with, according to one Parlor from State Secretary Zolt Szabó (PVV) of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. The introduction of such an app is a long -term process. In November of 2024, the government was instructed to use this new secure means of communication within the central government. With the future implementation, business chat traffic between ministers and selected government officials can be better protected and archived automatically.

3. Are the apps of ministers saved?

Yes, the archive legislation from 1995, tightened in 2021, obliges ministers to keep their work -related messages – including apps, text messages and emails.

Former Prime Minister Mark Rutte For example, in 2022 came into political problems, when it turned out that he had removed text messages for years because of ‘limited storage space’ on his old Nokia telephone. He survived a motion of no confidence.

Minister Uitermark describes work -related apps as a ‘source of information’ that can also be ‘read back’ through a claim to the archive law.

Minister Van Weel, in his own words, uses his private e -mail only for ‘protocol things’ such as an invitation for ‘a church service’. Minister Wiersma says that private email can yield ‘hassle’ and therefore says he does not use it.

4. How can the government communicate about sensitive information?

Ministers have the option of communicating via a secure line. Minister Uitermark uses the secure phone, called Tiger, « every week, » she says. Van Weel always puts his secure phone in his service car. « The car is often close by, » « has a safe, » explains Van Weel.

Special safety measures sometimes also apply to their own phones from ministers. For example, it was agreed under Prime Minister that everyone for the Council of Ministers in the Catshuis will store his or her phone in a safe. The decision -making in the consultation is therefore strictly confidential, until it is released in writing to the Upper or Lower House. The minutes of the Council of Ministers are only released after twenty years.

Storing the phones has another advantage, says Minister Uitermark. Everyone is also ‘more focused’ at the meeting table.

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