“In order to ensure the safety of conversations and shared information through instant messaging, it is requested to largely deploy the Tchap instant messaging”states the circular issued by the Prime Minister, François Bayrou, Friday July 25. It enjoins public officials, in particular members of ministerial cabinets, to adopt this secure messaging from 1is September 2025.
Tchap is presented there as a “Sovereign instant messaging” fully hosted by French servers, Developed and operated by the Interministerial Directorate of Digital and Validated by the National Agency for Information Systems Systems. According to the document, it is already used by “More than 300,000 agents”.
To support this choice, the Prime Minister evokes the risk of cyber attacks, but also of interference from foreign countries, “Who are likely to implement technical or legal measures to access the communications exchanged”. It targets in particular the United States, land of WhatsApp, Signal and Messenger. Because of the Cloud Act, promulgated in 2018, American companies may be forced to deliver their data to Washington, even if it is stored outside the United States.
The government, by its former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, had already enjoined his agents to give up messaging like Messenger, Signal, Telegram or Whatsapp. The circular, dated November 22, 2023, then recommended replacing them with French messaging Olvid, which claims to be the “First private messaging for all”encrypted and without personal data. Tchap should be privileged, but the ministries will be able to continue to use Olvid who, according to the circular of July 25, “Also meets the above -mentioned security objectives”.