Signal app 'not approved’ on city-issued devices

An encrypted messaging app used by Mayor Mike Johnston to communicate, specifically about the illegal immigration crisis in Denver, is not authorized for use on city-owned devices, according to the city’s technology department.“Technology Services governs the appropriate reviews, approvals, procurement, licensing, and management of all software and applications assets licensed by the city,” said Amanda Weston, a spokesperson for Denver Technology Services. “Signal is not an approved city application for city-issued devices. It is not prohibited on personal devices.”Application downloads on city-issued devices can be prevented when necessary, Weston added.In the case of Mayor Johnston’s “Strike Force” chat group, city officials said the signal app was not blocked from city-issued phones, so some employees did not realize the app was not approved.Most of participants in the chat were not using city-owned devices, according to Jordan Fuja, who speaks for Johnston's office."We were made aw...