Pro-ISIS Tech Group Warns Against Encrypted Messaging App Wickr, Recently Acquired By Amazon; Recommends Element As Secure Alternative

July 16, 2021

On July 14, 2021, a pro-Islamic State (ISIS) tech group, published a poster warning ISIS supporters against using the encrypted messaging platform Wickr, which was acquired by Amazon. The poster recommended the Element app as a "secure alternative."

In the poster, titled "Warning Against The Wickr App" released in Arabic, English, French, and Italian, and posted on the ISIS-run Rocket.Chat server, the pro-ISIS tech group wrote: "We warn our brothers against using the Wickr app for encrypted messaging. The Amazon company, which collaborates with the US government, acquired the application by purchasing the developer company."

The group then stated: "Therefore, we recommend using the Element application as a secure alternative for encrypted messaging, by Allah's permission."

On October 25, 2018, another pro-ISIS media group posted on several of its Telegram channels the download file for the encrypted communication app Wickr, saying that the app is safe for jihadis to download and use.

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