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Signal Grows in Popularity Among Trump Allies and Opponents Alike

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Signal, the end-to-end encrypted messaging app, has seen a surge in popularity, becoming the app of choice for a wide range of users, from Elon Musk’s government restructuring team to protesters opposing his initiatives. Known for its commitment to privacy, Signal offers secure communication, attracting both privacy-conscious individuals and those with more contentious political agendas.

Widespread Adoption Across Political and Government Spheres

Signal, founded over a decade ago, has emerged as the gold standard for encrypted communication. Mobile security experts widely consider it the safest platform for private conversations. The app’s adoption has been rapid, especially among government officials, lawmakers, and corporate leaders who seek to protect their sensitive discussions. Data from Sensor Tower shows that U.S. downloads of Signal in early 2025 were up 16% from the previous quarter and 25% compared to the same period in 2024.

In Washington, D.C., the app has become ubiquitous. Many congressional aides and political appointees now use Signal, with the phrase “Let’s take this to Signal” signaling that the conversation is about to turn private. A review by the Associated Press found that more than 1,100 government officials across all 50 states are now using the app.

Signal’s Role in Elon Musk’s Government Efforts and Opposition Movements

Musk’s efforts to overhaul the federal bureaucracy, particularly through his Department of Government Efficiency, have been coordinated via Signal, according to reports from the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Musk himself has used the app for confidential discussions, including communications surrounding his 2022 purchase of Twitter. Recently, he used Signal to speak with Ashley St. Clair, a right-wing social media personality and mother of his children.

On the other side of the political spectrum, Signal has become a key tool for those opposing Trump’s agenda. Civil service whistleblowers, in particular, have turned to the app to avoid surveillance from Trump appointees. Three employees recently fired by the administration shared with Reuters that their colleagues are rapidly downloading the app to discuss sensitive matters without fear of government monitoring.

Government and Corporate Endorsement of Signal

Some governments have formally endorsed the use of Signal for secure communication. In 2020, the European Commission encouraged its staff to use the app for public instant messaging. While the U.S. government has not issued such explicit guidance, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommended that senior government officials switch to encrypted communication apps like Signal in a guidance published late last year. The U.S. Senate has also approved the app for use by legislative staff.

Signal’s Privacy and Its Risks

The appeal of Signal is its privacy protections, which the company claims gather only the bare minimum amount of user data. However, these same protections have made the app attractive to individuals with less-than-lawful intentions. Criminals, including drug dealers, have increasingly used Signal for illicit communications, as noted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in a 2022 report. Furthermore, the rioters involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack also used Signal to coordinate their efforts, according to court filings.

Conclusion

Signal’s rise in popularity across both political and social movements highlights the growing demand for secure, encrypted communication. From the Trump administration’s reshaping of government agencies to protests against his policies, Signal is playing a central role in facilitating private conversations. As concerns over privacy and surveillance continue to rise, the app’s importance is likely to keep growing in both political and criminal circles.

Secretive Chinese Network Targets Laid-Off U.S. Government Workers, Research Shows

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A network of companies allegedly operated by a Chinese tech firm has been targeting recently laid-off U.S. government employees, attempting to recruit them through job ads and fake consulting offers, according to research by Max Lesser, a senior analyst with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. The campaign, which follows established tactics used in previous Chinese intelligence operations, raises concerns about espionage efforts aimed at exploiting vulnerable former federal workers.

Recruitment Efforts and Network Connections

Lesser’s research uncovered a network of four companies, which are said to be involved in a broader operation targeting ex-government workers and AI researchers. These companies, which have posted job listings on platforms such as Craigslist and LinkedIn, appear to be linked through overlapping websites, shared servers, and other digital connections. The four companies are also hosted on the same IP address as Smiao Intelligence, an internet services firm whose website went offline during the investigation.

Despite the efforts to track down these companies, Reuters faced numerous challenges, including dead-end phone calls, fake addresses, and deleted job listings. Lesser believes that the operation is designed to exploit the financial vulnerabilities of individuals affected by recent layoffs, including those initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency under President Donald Trump and tech tycoon Elon Musk.

The Potential for Espionage

Though it remains unclear whether the companies are directly linked to the Chinese government, analysts suggest that the network could serve as a vehicle for foreign-linked entities to gather sensitive information from former federal employees. Once recruited, these individuals could be asked to provide government-related intelligence or help expand the network by recruiting others.

The campaign’s focus on former government workers follows a pattern seen in previous espionage activities by both China and Russia, who have long targeted disgruntled or financially vulnerable U.S. employees to gain access to sensitive information. The FBI has warned that Chinese intelligence operatives have previously posed as academic institutions and recruitment firms to lure U.S. government employees into working as unwitting spies.

RiverMerge Strategies and Wavemax Innovation

One of the companies in the network, RiverMerge Strategies, described itself as a “geopolitical risk consulting” firm and posted job listings for positions such as “Geopolitical Consulting Advisor” and human resources specialists. Despite receiving over 200 applications for one of these roles, the company’s contact details were suspiciously linked to a Chinese phone number, and its physical addresses led to vacant or unrelated locations.

Another company, Wavemax Innovation, placed ads targeting laid-off government workers for positions in project management, research, and policy analysis. Similar to RiverMerge, Wavemax’s listed Singapore address led to a vacant field, raising further questions about its legitimacy.

Government Response and International Implications

In response to the investigation, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy denied any knowledge of the companies or their operations, emphasizing China’s commitment to respecting data privacy and security. Meanwhile, a White House spokesperson condemned such activities, underscoring the need for both current and former government employees to remain vigilant against foreign intelligence threats.

The FBI’s warnings and the tactics used in this case mirror earlier incidents, such as the 2020 conviction of Singaporean national Jun Wei Yeo, who worked as an agent of the Chinese government by luring U.S. government employees into espionage under the guise of consulting work.

Conclusion

This revelation highlights a growing trend of foreign intelligence services leveraging job recruitment scams to gain access to U.S. government insiders. As more employees are laid off due to restructuring or policy changes, they may become vulnerable to exploitation by foreign entities seeking to acquire sensitive information. The U.S. government has increasingly recognized the risks posed by such activities, urging employees to remain cautious about unsolicited job offers.

TSMC Proposes Joint Venture with Intel’s Foundry Division to Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom

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TSMC (2330.TW) has pitched the idea of a joint venture involving Intel’s (INTC.O) foundry division to major U.S. chip designers, including Nvidia (NVDA.O), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD.O), and Broadcom (AVGO.O), according to sources familiar with the discussions. Under the proposal, TSMC, the world’s leading contract chipmaker, would oversee Intel’s foundry operations, which focus on manufacturing chips tailored to customer needs, but TSMC would retain no more than 50% ownership.

The proposal has been discussed with several other firms as well, including Qualcomm (QCOM.O), as part of TSMC’s efforts to partner with chip designers. The discussions are still in their early stages, and any potential deal would require approval from the U.S. government, particularly under the administration of President Donald Trump, who has shown interest in helping Intel recover from its financial struggles. Trump is particularly invested in boosting American manufacturing and supporting companies like Intel in remaining U.S.-owned.

Intel, which reported an $18.8 billion net loss for 2024, has seen a drastic decline in its stock price over the past year. As of December 31, the book value of Intel’s foundry division’s property and plant equipment stood at $108 billion. The company’s recent struggles have pushed its board members to consider various strategic moves, including partnering with TSMC for its foundry operations.

Despite some internal opposition, Intel’s board members have expressed support for exploring a joint venture with TSMC, with Intel’s executives holding different views on the matter. Intel’s foundry division, once a crucial part of Intel’s strategy under former CEO Pat Gelsinger, is now central to the company’s efforts to return to profitability, even as Gelsinger was replaced by interim co-CEOs in December.

TSMC’s push for a joint venture is complicated by the significant differences in manufacturing processes and technologies between the two companies. Intel and TSMC currently employ distinct chipmaking methods, which could pose challenges in aligning operations. Intel has previously partnered with Taiwan’s UMC (2303.TW) and Israel’s Tower Semiconductor (TSEM.TA), offering some precedent for potential collaboration, but the specifics of how such a partnership could function remain uncertain, especially regarding the sharing of trade secrets.

While TSMC’s interest is to involve Intel’s advanced manufacturing customers in the venture, discussions have also centered around Intel’s 18A manufacturing process, a key area of contention in the negotiations. Intel executives have claimed that its 18A technology surpasses TSMC’s 2-nanometer process, with Nvidia and Broadcom already testing Intel’s manufacturing capabilities, alongside AMD exploring the potential of Intel’s processes for its chips.