WASHINGTON, D.C. — The White House announced in May that its new app would be automatically downloaded onto the work phones of millions of government employees. This action prompted cybersecurity concerns and revelations concerning data sharing with third parties.

Cybersecurity experts raised concerns in April that the app initially shared users' locations and IP addresses with third parties. An investigation by NOTUS found that the app incorporated widgets created by Elfsight, a Russia-based company, which exposed the personal information of White House officials. The White House said Elfsight had been made aware of the vulnerability at the time of reporting.

White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said the White House app does not require anyone to create an account or enter any data into the app. Wales also stated that any information on the app is safe and secure. Wales noted that government devices typically include pre-installed applications that provide value to government employees' day-to-day work.

Employees of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the State Department, and the Department of Labor reported the app appeared on their phones and could not be deleted. A USDA employee stated that they deleted the app as a test, and it reappeared immediately. A State Department employee said they removed the app from their phone, but it returned within 24 hours.

The app, which debuted in March, promises a mixture of real-time updates, live events, and direct access to the Presidency, according to the White House website. The version installed on government phones is the same version available to the public. The app includes a button that allows users to text President Trump, which autofills a text bubble reading "Greatest President Ever." The Social section of the app displays posts from the White House X account, Trump's Truth Social posts, and videos from official TikTok and Instagram accounts. The News section includes White House press releases, briefings, fact sheets, and selected articles from Fox, Breitbart, and The New York Post.

The app was developed by 45Press, an Ohio-based company. 45Press received $1.5 million and was eligible to receive more than $8 million in government contracts, according to the System for Award Management. The app's privacy policy in Apple's App Store links to the official page describing the privacy policy for WhiteHouse.gov, but the White House Mobile App policy page only includes an email address and no details on privacy or data policies for the app itself.