The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has directed Meta to halt the rollout of the username feature on WhatsApp in India due to concerns over impersonation and cyberfraud risks, according to livemint.com. Meta has been asked to provide a detailed explanation within three days and to suspend the feature’s launch until consultations are complete.
The username feature, announced by Meta recently, allows WhatsApp users to connect via usernames instead of phone numbers, aiming to reduce exposure of personal contact details. However, the government fears this could enable deceptive identities and increase fraud risks. Additionally, officials are reviewing potential data sharing implications with Meta’s other platforms, Facebook and Instagram. Meta stated that linking WhatsApp with these apps would remain optional in the future, as reported by inc42.com.
The government’s intervention reflects broader concerns about privacy and security in digital identity systems. The username feature resembles those used by competitors like Telegram and Signal but raises questions about compliance with India’s IT Rules, 2021, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. The move to pause the rollout highlights regulatory scrutiny over new social media features that may impact user safety and data protection.
Meta began allowing users to reserve usernames this week ahead of the planned feature launch later this year, which would affect over three billion WhatsApp users globally. The government’s directive to pause the rollout and seek clarification underscores the regulatory challenges faced by global tech companies introducing identity-related features in India.