ABC staff told not to use disappearing messages on topics including antisemitism and extremism due to freeze notice

ABC journalists have been told they cannot destroy any communication under the remit of the royal commission into antisemitism. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

Journalists at the ABC who cover any topic which comes under the remit of the royal commission into antisemitism received a sobering edict from news boss Justin Stevens on Friday: they cannot send or receive confidential Signal messages because no communications can be destroyed.

Journalists use disappearing messages in some circumstances to communicate with confidential sources in an effort to protect what they tell them.