SRINAGAR: Meta-owned WhatsApp has assured the government that it will not roll out its proposed ‘username’ feature in India until ongoing discussions with authorities are completed, sources said.
The messaging platform has also been granted an additional three days to respond to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s notice seeking clarification over the feature, which has raised concerns related to online fraud, phishing, impersonation, and digital arrest scams.
The username feature is designed to allow WhatsApp users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers. However, the Centre has flagged concerns that such a system could increase the risk of misuse by fraudsters.
Last week, the government issued a notice to Meta, asking the company to pause the rollout of the feature until consultations are completed “to the satisfaction of the Government”. It also sought an explanation on why action should not be initiated under provisions of the IT Act and related rules.
Sources said Meta representatives met IT Ministry officials after receiving the notice and assured them that the feature would not be introduced in India until the matter is resolved.
The government has reminded WhatsApp, which is classified as a significant social media intermediary, of its due diligence responsibilities under India’s IT framework.
Responding to concerns earlier, WhatsApp said the username feature is currently not active and will be introduced gradually later this year with multiple safeguards.
The company said it has reserved high-profile usernames linked to public figures, government organisations, celebrities and verified Meta accounts to prevent impersonation.
WhatsApp said users will still need a phone number to create an account, adding that protections have been built to reduce scam risks.
According to the company, users will need to know the exact username to initiate contact, while restrictions will be placed on the number of new people an account can message. WhatsApp also said it will use detection systems to identify and remove impersonation and abusive activity.
The platform said that when a user receives a first-time message through a username, WhatsApp will display indicators such as whether the sender is a new account, a contact, part of a mutual group, or located in another country.
Meanwhile, the IT Ministry has also issued notices to Telegram and Signal over their existing username features, seeking details on measures taken to address fraud and impersonation risks.
The notices come amid increased regulatory scrutiny of online platforms, with Meta also facing questions over child sexual abuse material appearing in Instagram advertisements, while Telegram has been asked to take action against the circulation of pirated films and other copyrighted content.
