WhatsApp Username Feature Under Government Scanner Over Fraud Fears
The Indian government is evaluating WhatsApp's response to a notice concerning its proposed 'username' feature, which has raised concerns over potential increases in online fraud, phishing, impersonation, and digital arrest scams. Sources said the Meta-owned platform submitted its reply on Thursday night, and officials are currently reviewing it.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had last week directed WhatsApp not to roll out the username feature in India until consultations are completed. The government argued that allowing users to communicate without sharing phone numbers could materially escalate cybercrime risks. The notice also asked WhatsApp to explain why action should not be initiated under the Information Technology Act and relevant rules.
On Thursday, IT Secretary S Krishnan indicated that the government expected WhatsApp's response shortly. He also noted that similar notices sent to Telegram and Signal have not yet received replies. The government is examining the issue with due diligence.
WhatsApp, in its response, reiterated that users would still need a phone number to create and use an account. The company highlighted several safeguards built into the feature, including limiting how many new people an account can contact, blocking repeated attempts to guess a username, and systems to detect impersonation and abuse patterns. Additionally, users would receive extra context before responding to first-time messages sent via usernames, such as whether the sender is a new account, a contact, shares common groups, or is based in a different country.
A WhatsApp spokesperson earlier said the feature is still under development and will be introduced gradually later this year. The company has also secured high-profile names, such as public figures and government entities, to prevent impersonation.
The government's scrutiny is part of broader efforts to regulate social media intermediaries and curb cybercrime. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has also sent notices to Telegram and Signal, seeking details on how their username features address fraud and impersonation risks.
No official statement has been issued by WhatsApp on the contents of its submission. The government continues to review the matter and has not set a timeline for the feature's rollout in India.
