Government to Review Messaging Platforms' Response on Username Feature and CSAM Concerns
The government is set to review responses from messaging platforms regarding their username features and from Meta concerning child sexual abuse material (CSAM), according to IT Secretary S. Krishnan. Speaking over the weekend, Krishnan confirmed that the Ministry had received the replies and would spend approximately a week evaluating them.
WhatsApp's username feature, which allows users to communicate without sharing phone numbers, has raised government concerns about potential misuse for impersonation and scams. Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, has countered these concerns by stating that the feature will include a PIN safeguard and that users who send excessive unsolicited messages will be automatically blocked, a measure already in place.
Meanwhile, Arattai, a messaging platform owned by Zoho Corp. and a competitor to WhatsApp, has temporarily disabled its username feature during the review process.
On the issue of CSAM, Meta addressed the matter in a blog post, acknowledging the ongoing challenge of detecting and preventing such content on its platforms. The company stated that while it employs technology to identify CSAM, it faces constant efforts by criminals to evade detection among its 3.5 billion users. The government's notice and Meta's response follow a BBC report that found multiple suggestive advertisements on Instagram directing users to external CSAM content.
The government's review will assess whether the platforms' proposed measures adequately address the risks identified. No timeline has been announced for a decision.
