Online reports have begun to disclose information about an individual mobile app that has gained popularity among White House staffers. The chat service, called Confide, allows them to speak more privately and they use it in a peculiar way.
Donald Trump’s presidency means the end of free press for many people, especially after some of the Twitter tirades the current head-of-state has directed towards the media.
The businessman has actively undermined the press’ role in informing the public about what’s going on with the administration. He has suggested restrictive measures and has also accused many prominent institutions of spreading ‘fake news’ against him.
Trump ordered an investigation on the White House staff
According to online reports, people working at the White House have begun to police their private speech, which in turn has led them to seek alternatives like Confide.
Some of them are afraid that they might lose their jobs for ‘talking to the media,’ especially after the President ordered an insider investigation on the West Wing staff. He took this measure following repeated leaks of phone call conversations and other data.
How does Confide work?
Confide features end-to-end encryption and ‘screenshot protection,’ and users can still send pictures, videos, and audio. The app is available for both Android and iOS.
Its most attractive feature, however, might be that every message disappears right after the receiving user reads it. Confide is available for desktop, too. It’s completely free, and even features group messaging.
The app’s official website states that it provides ‘military-grade’ encryption, though they do not specify the inner workings of the system. Some online reviewers have dismissed it as unsafe, given that its source code is not public.
However, as many have noted, the fact that White House staffers currently use it for private conversations might be a good sign. After all, the White House is (and has always been) a niche for sensitive information and secrecy.
The future of information under Donald Trump
The fake news media is going crazy with their conspiracy theories and blind hatred. @MSNBC & @CNN are unwatchable. @foxandfriends is great!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2017
The current President has spurred a debate in the United States for its treatment of the media. Many people believe his latest remarks to be, to say the least, dictatorial.
Others do support the fact that several news outlets have provided their audiences with biased coverage regarding the Trump presidency. But many people would agree that the current administration itself doesn’t need the media to get bad press.
Following the executive order referred to as the ‘Muslim ban,’ a federal judge named Sally Yates refused to comply. The President subsequently fired her. Days before this, Stephen Bannon, Trump’s first advisor, remarked that the media should ‘keep its mouth shut.’
These circumstances might explain why White House staffers currently choose to have their conversations through an encrypted app. It might also serve as the reason why many public institutions created separate Twitter accounts after Trump took office, for example.
Source: Mashable
