Government reviews WhatsApp’s response on proposed username feature
The Central government has received WhatsApp’s response regarding concerns over its proposed username feature and is currently examining the company’s submission.
The government had earlier directed the Meta-owned messaging platform not to introduce the feature in India until discussions with authorities are completed, citing concerns that usernames could increase the risk of online fraud, impersonation and phishing.
WhatsApp had sought additional time to respond and assured officials that the feature would not be launched in India before consultations conclude.
Officials are also awaiting responses from Telegram and Signal, both of which already support username-based communication.
The government has asked Meta to explain how it intends to comply with obligations under the Information Technology Act and related rules while preventing misuse of the feature.
WhatsApp has stated that users will still need a phone number to create an account. The company also said it plans to introduce safeguards, including reserving usernames for public figures and government entities, limiting contact attempts from unknown users and using automated systems to detect impersonation.
The platform has further stated that first-time messages will include contextual information, such as whether the sender is already in the recipient’s contacts, shares mutual groups or is messaging from another country, allowing users to make informed decisions before responding.
The Centre has also recently issued separate notices to Meta regarding child safety concerns and to Telegram over alleged circulation of pirated content.