Half of Australia’s law enforcement agencies have banned officers using encrypted messaging apps

Police in NSW, South Australia, Queensland and Victoria are banned from using third-party messaging apps on work devices. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP

Half of the Australian law enforcement agencies across Australia have banned their officers from using messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal, after New South Wales police last week banned the practice.

Last week, the NSW police force said it had introduced security software that meant “social media and other personal apps will not work or be downloadable” on NSW police force issued devices.