Govt orders Meta to pause WhatsApp username rollout

The Centre on Wednesday issued a notice to Meta regarding the controversial username feature on WhatsApp in India due to concerns about impersonation and fraud, and warned the platform not to roll it out until consultations on the issue are completed "to the satisfaction of the Government". It has also directed Meta to furnish a detailed explanation on the username feature, backed by relevant documents, within three days. In the notice, the government expressed concern that the WhatsApp username feature may "materially increase" cases of online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks by enabling bad actors to solicit and message victims.
The government's move marks the first official intervention by authorities into WhatsApp's planned username-based messaging system, which would allow users to connect without sharing their mobile phone numbers. Officials are examining whether the feature has adequate safeguards to prevent misuse by cybercriminals and whether it could make it harder to identify fraudulent accounts.In a notice, the government has asked the company to explain how the feature will work, what mechanisms will be in place to verify users, and how the company plans to prevent impersonation, online fraud and other forms of abuse. The company has also been told not to launch the feature in India until the ongoing review and consultations are completed.
The proposed username feature has drawn criticism from cybersecurity experts and startup founders. They have warned that lookalike usernames could be exploited unless robust verification and anti-impersonation safeguards are introduced.