What You Need to Know About WhatsApp's Controversial Username Feature

Government Scrutinizes WhatsApp's Username Feature

New Delhi: The Indian government is currently reviewing WhatsApp's response regarding its proposed username feature, as reported by sources.

Last Wednesday, the government issued a notice to the Meta-owned messaging service, raising concerns that the new feature could lead to a rise in online fraud, phishing, and impersonation scams. The government has instructed WhatsApp to refrain from launching this feature until satisfactory consultations are completed.

This username feature would enable users to communicate without disclosing their phone numbers.

WhatsApp requested additional time to respond to the government's inquiries and assured officials that it would not implement the feature in India until discussions are finalized.

According to sources, WhatsApp's response was received on Thursday night and is currently under review.

As of now, there has been no official statement from WhatsApp regarding its submission to the IT Ministry.

Earlier on Thursday, IT Secretary S. Krishnan mentioned at the CII GCC Business Summit that WhatsApp's response was awaited. He also noted that replies from other messaging platforms, Telegram and Signal, regarding similar notices had not yet been received, stating, "There is still a little more time, so the replies have not yet been received...we will examine this issue."

Following the notice, a Meta team met with IT Ministry officials last Friday.

The government had asked Meta to clarify why actions should not be taken under the IT Act concerning WhatsApp's new feature, which could potentially escalate cybercrimes. It also reminded Meta of its obligations as a major social media intermediary under the IT Act.

A WhatsApp spokesperson indicated last week that the username feature is not yet active and will be gradually rolled out later this year.

"To prevent impersonation, we have reserved usernames for high-profile individuals, including public figures and verified accounts, ensuring they can only be claimed by their rightful owners," the spokesperson stated.

WhatsApp clarified that users still need a phone number to access the platform and that multiple safeguards against scams have been integrated into the username feature.

"Other users must know the exact username to initiate contact. We will limit the number of new contacts an account can reach, block repeated attempts to guess usernames, and implement systems to identify and eliminate impersonation and abuse patterns," the company added.

When the feature is launched, WhatsApp will inform users whether a first-time sender is a new account, a contact, a mutual group member, or from another country before they decide to respond.

"When the feature is available, if someone messages you for the first time using your username, we will indicate if they are a new account, if they are in your contacts, if you share groups, and if they are from a different country, allowing you to choose whether to reply," WhatsApp explained.

After addressing WhatsApp, the IT Ministry also sent notices to Telegram and Signal, questioning their existing username features and how they are managing fraud and impersonation risks. While WhatsApp boasts 500 million users in India, Telegram's user base is significantly smaller.

In recent days, both Meta and Telegram have faced regulatory challenges on various fronts.

The government issued a strict notice to Meta regarding child sexual abuse material in Instagram ads, while Telegram was directed to take action against the widespread sharing of pirated films and other content on its platform.