While reviewing records from the 2023 Maui fire obtained through public records requests, reporters Claudia Lauer and Rebecca Boone noticed a text exchange involving emergency management officials that referenced Signal—an end-to-end encrypted messaging app designed to keep communications private.
The reference reminded Lauer of several recent cases in which public officials were scrutinized for using encrypted apps like Signal, WhatsApp, Confide, and Telegram—some of which include auto-delete functions. While these apps offer enhanced security and privacy, their use can make it harder for the public to access official communications and raises concerns about transparency.
In anticipation of Sunshine Week in March 2025, Lauer and Boone launched a 50-state project, collaborating with statehouse reporters nationwide to assess how often public officials are using these apps.
The team identified accounts on encrypted platforms linked to cellphone numbers of more than 1,100 government workers and elected officials. While having the apps is not illegal in most states—and account ownership doesn’t necessarily mean they’re being used to skirt open records laws—the findings revealed that public records laws have not kept pace with the growing use of encrypted messaging technology.
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