The police will not snoop into people's WhatsApp messages but would instead monitor those who abuse social media platforms which threaten national security.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said this following an uproar from those who are opposed to police spying against private messages.

"We are not going to read all the messages; what I meant to say is that we will monitor any abuse (of social media) which threatens national security," he said.