The Central Government is appraising Meta's response on WhatsApp's proposed username feature, and also considering the possibility of bringing usernames into one uniform policy across digital platforms, government sources said. The move comes as cybercriminals are growing concerned that the new feature could inadvertently create new opportunities.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is currently reviewing WhatsApp’s detailed reply in the wake of a government notice that the company is going to allow users to communicate without having their phone numbers.
The proposed feature, similar to the one available on Telegram and Signal, would allow users to connect using unique usernames instead of revealing their personal phone numbers. Although the feature is designed to improve user privacy, Indian authorities suspect it will also help to mask fraudsters’ identities.
Government Raises Cybersecurity Concerns
Last week, the Centre formally issued a notice to Meta, expressing serious concerns that the username-based system could lead to a rise in cyber fraud, phishing attacks, impersonation, identity theft, and the increasingly common “digital arrest” scams targeting Indian users.
Even if phone numbers were removed from the initial interactions, law enforcement agencies would struggle to catch offenders and trace cybercriminals who commit online fraud, they say.
The government has maintained that any feature which could affect user identification must be thoroughly consulted before it is implemented in India.
Asked to Delay Rollout
The Centre told WhatsApp not to roll out the username feature in India until discussions with the government were completed to the satisfaction of the government.
It also asked Meta to explain why proceedings should not be initiated under the provisions of the Information Technology Act and the rules governing significant social media intermediaries.
The company is therefore required to comply with due diligence under India's IT laws for a platform such as WhatsApp since new features may contribute to user safety or digital security, they said.
Meta Responds, Seeks More Time
WhatsApp asked for a further period of time to respond to the government's notice. It also said it would not launch the username feature in India until it worked with the Centre to determine that it could.
Now government officials say MeitY has received Meta's response and is taking into account the company's explanations and is reviewing its explanations before deciding on its next step.
At the moment, neither Meta nor WhatsApp has issued a public statement after submitting the response.
Uniform Username Policy Under Consideration
Other than reviewing WhatsApp's proposal, the government also aims at a common policy for username creation across digital platforms.
While details are still being discussed, such a framework could establish standard rules to prevent impersonation, fake identities, and misuse of anonymous usernames across messaging and social media services, for example.
A uniform approach would help to increase online safety and be consistent with the various platforms operating in India, they say.
No Final Decision Yet
The Centre has not said yet if it will approve the feature or make it modified before it is rolled out. Government sources say that discussions are ongoing and a final decision will be made only after Meta’s response is thoroughly reviewed.
The proposed username feature is supposed to further protect user privacy by not revealing mobile numbers in messages. But Indian authorities are not going away: they still feel there are more and more security measures that must be taken to guarantee privacy and that cybercrime risks will not come into the picture.
So the progress of the discussions is anticipated to shape not only WhatsApp's future features in India but also the regulatory framework governing digital identity and user safety across online platforms.
