India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has extended the deadline for Meta's WhatsApp to respond to concerns over its new username feature by three days, moving the deadline to July 9, 2026, according to livemint.com. The extension follows earlier government requests for clarification on the issue.
The extension was confirmed by a government official to the Hindustan Times, as reported by livemint.com. The government had initially sought a response from WhatsApp regarding the username feature, which has raised privacy and regulatory concerns. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is overseeing the matter and has given Meta additional time to provide its official reply.
This development comes amid ongoing scrutiny of WhatsApp's new username feature in India, where regulators have expressed concerns about user privacy and compliance with local laws. The extension underscores the government's cautious approach to ensuring that WhatsApp's new feature aligns with India's regulatory framework. The move follows similar regulatory actions targeting major tech companies in the country.
The new deadline for WhatsApp's response is set for July 9, 2026, as confirmed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The government will review Meta's submission to determine the next steps in addressing the username issue, with potential implications for WhatsApp's operations in India.