WhatsApp has submitted its response to the Indian government’s notice regarding its proposed username feature, with officials now reviewing the reply, sources confirmed on Thursday.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had issued the notice to Meta last Wednesday, expressing concerns that the feature—allowing users to message without sharing phone numbers—could increase online fraud, phishing, and impersonation scams. The government directed WhatsApp to halt the rollout until consultations were completed to its satisfaction.
Government scrutiny and WhatsApp’s assurances
After receiving the notice, WhatsApp requested additional time to respond and assured authorities it would not launch the feature in India pending further discussions. IT Secretary S Krishnan confirmed on Thursday that WhatsApp’s reply was due and had been received, while responses from Telegram and Signal—facing similar notices—are still awaited.
A Meta team met MeitY officials last Friday following the government’s summons. The notice cited potential violations under the Information Technology Act, emphasizing WhatsApp’s obligations as a significant social media intermediary to prevent cybercrime.
How the username feature would work
WhatsApp stated the feature is not yet live and will be introduced gradually later this year. The platform has reserved high-profile usernames for public figures, government entities, and verified accounts to prevent misuse. Additional safeguards include:
- Blocking lookalike variations of well-known names
- Requiring exact username matches to send messages
- Limiting new contacts and detecting impersonation patterns
- Providing context on first messages, such as sender details
Users will still need a phone number to create an account. The government has also sought details from Telegram and Signal on how their existing username features mitigate fraud risks.
Separately, Meta and Telegram face other regulatory actions. Meta was recently noticed over child sexual abuse material in Instagram ads, while Telegram was directed to curb pirated content dissemination.
