Deutsche Bank warns staff not to delete WhatsApps amid scrutiny

Deutsche Bank first tried to rein in WhatsApp use five years ago when it disabled the app along with text messages on company phones but it introduced software enabling WhatsApp in some circumstances three years later. It’s now working on yet another solution. — Photo by Daniel Korpai on Unsplash

Deutsche Bank AG has warned its employees not to delete WhatsApp messages from their phones as part of moves by the German lender to clamp down on private communication channels.

The Frankfurt-based bank earlier this year sent a memo to staff warning them that any business-related messages going through private channels mustn’t be deleted as the act could be considered a crime under US law, according to people with knowledge of the matter. It also reminded them that using messages sent from private phones for business is a violation of company policy, the people said asking not to be identified discussing the private matter.