The authorities have instructed Meta to provide a comprehensive explanation about the proposed feature within three days. They have also mandated that the “usernames” feature must not be launched in India until the consultation process concludes.
Significantly, the Ministry has urged WhatsApp to clarify why regulatory measures should not be initiated under the IT Act concerning the introduction of a feature that could potentially heighten cybercrime risks.
This notice follows the government’s attention to WhatsApp’s public disclosures about the rollout of the “usernames” feature, which will allow users to reserve unique usernames instead of sharing their mobile numbers.
Concerns have emerged that, once activated, phone numbers may become invisible to users, leading to issues with traceability and user identification.
The notice indicates that the government has identified a significant risk that this feature may increase the occurrences of online fraud, phishing, “digital arrest” scams, impersonation attacks, and could empower malicious actors.
Additionally, it has raised concerns about identity spoofing, including the impersonation of individuals, public authorities, financial institutions, and government bodies.
Details regarding the government’s specific concerns or the issues under consultation have not been publicly disclosed.
WhatsApp’s planned usernames feature is anticipated to enable users to interact via unique usernames instead of sharing their mobile numbers, although the company has not officially introduced the feature in India.
A WhatsApp representative stated that the usernames feature is not yet active and will be gradually rolled out later this year. The company confirmed that users will still need a phone number to access WhatsApp, and mentioned that safeguards are being implemented to prevent impersonation and abuse. These include restrictions on high-profile usernames, blocking lookalike variations, and limitations on contact requests. Furthermore, systems will be established to detect and eliminate suspicious activities, and users will receive contextual information—such as whether a sender is a contact, a new account, or located in a different country—before responding to messages from unknown usernames.
(Edited by : Prashant)
First Published: Jul 1, 2026 9:14 PM IST
