Through much of 2025, a U.S. special agent had been looking into claims that some Meta employees and contractors could see the content of encrypted WhatsApp messages. The investigation was just abruptly closed. | REUTERS

A U.S. agency abruptly closed an investigation into allegations that Meta Platforms Inc. can access encrypted WhatsApp messages, said two people familiar with the matter, ending a law enforcement inquiry into claims that challenge how the company markets the chat service’s privacy.

The probe was shut down soon after a Commerce Department investigator contacted other federal officials early this year to share his conclusions "thus far” and try to coordinate ongoing investigative work.…