New federal crime: sharing classified info on Signal, WhatsApp, or Telegram.
H.R. 2611 — HOUTHI PC SMALL GROUP Act of 2025 · Filed by Ritchie Torres (D-NY) · Introduced Apr 2, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill creates a new federal crime: knowingly sharing classified information via mobile or desktop messaging apps (like Signal, WhatsApp, Telegram, or iMessage). Violators face up to 10 years in prison and fines. The bill amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to add this offense to the espionage statutes.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a straightforward criminal-law amendment adding a new felony for classified-information disclosure via messaging apps. It is not a rider or hidden provision—it does exactly what the short title claims, though the long title's backronym is unusual.
What the text implies
- No explicit exemption for lawful whistleblowing, inspector-general disclosures, or congressional notification—prosecutors may interpret the statute to criminalize protected disclosures to oversight bodies or the press.
- The phrase 'any classified information' is extremely broad and does not distinguish between information classified at different levels or information whose disclosure would cause varying degrees of harm.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill protects national security by criminalizing a specific vector for classified-information leaks, which serves the public interest in preventing espionage and protecting intelligence sources. However, the broad language ('communicates...any classified information') may chill legitimate whistleblowing, internal reporting, or lawful oversight communications, and lacks explicit carve-outs for protected speech, inspector-general disclosures, or congressional notification—creating a chilling e