Scotland’s Information Commissioner has expressed concern over the deletion of WhatsApp messages related to COVID-19 by Scottish officials, suggesting that the principles of the Freedom of Information Act may have been subverted. The issue came to light during the COVID Inquiry, with Scotland's chief medical officer Sir Gregor Smith advising colleagues to delete messages daily, in line with the Scottish Government’s records management policy. This has sparked public debate and criticism, particularly aimed at UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, over the government's handling of WhatsApp messages during the pandemic.
This debate about deleted WhatsApp messages from the #covidenquiry is absurd: we do not record all conversations between politicians and decision-makers - there should be no expectation of public scrutiny of conversations, and WhatsApp is no different to a telephone call
Won't they keep deleting the messages?! Social media users mock Rishi Sunak over the UK Government's new WhatsApp channel as they remind the PM of his 'missing' Covid texts https://t.co/buzJ1st0sU https://t.co/fZAZNaQvnx
Scotland’s chief medical officer Sir Gregor Smith also advised colleagues to delete messages everyday, @covidinquiryuk hears. He argues they were dealt with in line with the Scottish Government’s records management policy https://t.co/VPTyYnJ3DB
Scotland’s chief media officer Sir Gregor Smith also advised deleting messages every day, @covidinquiryuk hears. He argued this was in line with the Scottish Government’s records management policy https://t.co/XoxcnudW9R
Is it that he’s found his whatsapps?! https://t.co/jdxlEcM1t0
Did he find lost WhatsApps https://t.co/HbBdUgfuUK
You've finally found his WhatsApps from the pandemic? https://t.co/sY3EnWrZyA
Erm, is the prime minister going to be live-streaming the deleting of all his WhatsApps? https://t.co/9OVOcNMMO9
Found the lost WhatsApps? https://t.co/SvJzObiStm
They found Rishi's WhatsApps? https://t.co/ozTtDQMLLz
Covid Inquiry: Watchdog concern over deleted WhatsApps https://t.co/Wk6bQ9glbJ
Scotland’s Information Commissioner on issue of covid WhatsApps: tells #bbcgms “It appears that the principles of The Freedom of information act appear to have been subverted by some of the conversations that have been released” Says some of the info released “beggars belief”
Was Sturgeon just following WhatsApp guidelines by hitting delete? https://t.co/eOPUHmI72G