The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has directed WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram to explain their username features amid concerns over cybercrimes linked to impersonation. This move follows MeitY’s earlier order for WhatsApp to halt the public rollout of its username feature until the government is satisfied. Zoho-owned messaging app Arattai has already agreed to disable its username feature in compliance with the regulatory directive, according to MeitY’s S Krishnan at a press interaction.
MeitY’s notices to these messaging platforms highlight the risk that usernames pose by enabling impersonations and facilitating cybercrimes. Krishnan emphasized that usernames represent another dimension of cybercrime, which prompted the government to seek explanations from WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and Arattai. While MeitY has not made these notices public, media leaks have provided insight into the government’s demands. Zoho’s CEO Sridhar Vembu confirmed Arattai’s decision to remove the username feature on the social platform X.
The government’s intervention reflects growing concerns about the security implications of username features on popular messaging platforms. By targeting major players like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram, MeitY aims to curb impersonation risks that could lead to fraud or other cyber offenses. This regulatory scrutiny comes amid increasing attention on digital safety and user identity verification in India’s expanding online communication landscape.
MeitY’s actions follow a formal notice to WhatsApp, which included a detailed explanation of the government’s concerns over the username rollout, as seen in the official notice shared publicly. The next steps will likely involve responses from the platforms, with potential regulatory outcomes shaping how username features are implemented across messaging apps in India.