Username feature carries serious risks of cybercrime: IT Secy

The government sought explanation from WhatsApp and other messaging platforms on the username feature, given the "serious" possibilities of impersonation and cybercrime, IT Secretary S Krishnan said on Friday. The comment assumes significance as the government has shot-off notices this week questioning WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal about the username feature - a facility that essentially allows people on the messaging platform to communicate without sharing their phone numbers. Within days of announcing plans to introduce the username feature, Meta-owned WhatsApp was served notice by the government asking why action should not be initiated under the IT Act and related rules; Centre also sought detailed information and directed WhatsApp to pause the feature until all consultations are completed "to the satisfaction of the government".

#WATCH | Delhi | Over WhatsApp on their new User ID rollout plan, S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, says, "We have taken up the issue of using usernames because there is a serious possibility of impersonations and there is the kind of… pic.twitter.com/Pvdv7S9P6w

— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2026

India recorded 24.65 lakh cyber fraud complaints, according to data from the Ministry of Home Affairs. AI-powered scams, digital arrests, fake investment schemes and identity theft are already rising rapidly. Experts believe introducing a new digital identity layer could unintentionally give fraudsters another tool to exploit. On govt probing the reported iPhone 18 Tata Electronics data leak as a cybercrime, S. Krishnan, says, "We are investigating."