Scottish government ministers and staff are to be banned from using informal mobile messaging apps – including WhatsApp – on official devices.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes announced the move on Tuesday following the publication of an external review ordered by former first minister Humza Yousaf.
It came after the UK COVID inquiry revealed ministers and top civil servants had deleted WhatsApp messages exchanged during the pandemic.
Any “non-corporate” messaging technology will be removed from Scottish government devices in spring 2025, with updated guidance and training in the run-up.
The deputy first minister said: “The use of mobile messaging apps increased during the pandemic as staff worked remotely in unprecedented and difficult circumstances.
“Having reflected on our working practices, we are now implementing changes to the use of mobile messaging apps.”
The review was led by former Channel Islands data protection commissioner Emma Martins.
Ms Forbes added: “Ms Martins’ timely review sets out some of the most challenging issues facing all governments.
“Work has already started to implement recommendations, and we will build on that work to ensure that data management, especially in relation to new technologies, is as robust as possible in order to continue to deliver efficient and effective public services.”
Ms Martins made 20 recommendations on different areas of corporate governance, including the values of the Scottish government, its learning and development process, its recruitment procedures, records management and the use of mobile messaging apps.
Improvement work is already under way, including strengthening the Scottish Ministerial Code and refreshing the mobile messaging app policy.
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Ms Martins said: “Technologies are changing our lives at home and in the workplace.
“No organisation can afford to sit back and hope that navigating those changes will come without effort.
“Values need to be clear, individuals need to engage, and governance needs to be effective.
“The Scottish government already understands this and there are a number of improvements already in train.
“It is my sincere hope that the recommendations in this review serve as additional fuel for that important journey.”
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Last year, lead counsel to the UK COVID inquiry, Jamie Dawson KC, said most of the messages sent within the Scottish government had been deleted.
It later transpired a number of senior members, including John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon, had deleted messages, though both claimed they did not relate to official government business.
Former national clinical director Jason Leitch was also criticised for describing deleting WhatsApp messages as a “pre-bed ritual” while another senior clinician warned colleagues that messages could be published under freedom of information legislation.
Ms Forbes, who served as finance secretary during the pandemic, told the inquiry she did not delete any of her WhatsApp messages until January 2022 when all major COVID decisions had been made.
In response to the news, the Scottish Conservatives said the SNP “must think Scots are buttoned up the back”.
Dr Sandesh Gulhane, the party’s shadow cabinet secretary for health, said the “nationalists spent the pandemic deleting WhatsApp messages on an industrial scale”.
The MSP added: “The deputy first minister couldn’t even bring herself to admit today in announcing this new policy that deleting those messages was morally wrong.”
