Government Issues Notice to WhatsApp Over New Username Feature Amid Spam and Impersonation Concerns

The Central Government has issued a formal notice to WhatsApp over its upcoming username feature, expressing concerns that the new functionality could increase the risks of spam, identity theft, and user impersonation. The feature, which allows users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers, has been asked to remain on hold until further consultations are completed.

According to government officials, WhatsApp has been directed to provide a detailed explanation of the proposed username feature within three days. Authorities have also advised the company not to roll out the feature until discussions with the government are concluded.

The planned feature is designed to let users interact using unique usernames instead of phone numbers, similar to platforms such as Telegram and Signal. Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, says the move is aimed at improving user privacy by reducing the need to share personal contact information with new acquaintances.

In its official announcement, Meta stated that sharing a phone number can often feel intrusive because it is linked to multiple aspects of a person's personal and digital identity. The company believes usernames will offer users greater control over how they connect with others while maintaining privacy.

A WhatsApp spokesperson clarified that the username feature has not yet been launched and will be introduced gradually later this year. The company also said it has implemented safeguards to prevent misuse and impersonation.

To protect high-profile individuals and organizations, WhatsApp has reserved usernames for public figures, government institutions, celebrities, and verified Meta accounts so they can only be claimed by legitimate owners. Additionally, lookalike usernames will also be restricted to reduce fraudulent activity.

Meta further stated that users will have the option to ignore messages from unknown accounts. The platform will also display the country associated with a sender's phone number and introduce an optional username key, allowing users to limit who can contact them using their username.

The government's concerns come in the backdrop of previous actions involving messaging platforms. Earlier, authorities temporarily banned Telegram following concerns that anonymous accounts could be used to spread misinformation related to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Examination (NEET). Telegram's username-based communication system was among the factors considered during the regulatory review before the restriction was eventually lifted.

In recent years, the Indian government has increased oversight of major digital platforms, including WhatsApp. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) previously directed Meta to ensure that WhatsApp accounts remain linked to active SIM cards inserted in mobile devices. It had also instructed the company to automatically log users out of WhatsApp Web sessions every six hours, although that requirement was later withdrawn.

India remains WhatsApp's largest market, with more than 800 million users accounting for over one-fourth of the platform's global user base of nearly three billion. While Meta continues to defend end-to-end encryption by legally challenging certain provisions of India's IT Rules, the company has also shown greater willingness to cooperate with regulatory requirements in recent years.

WhatsApp has increasingly become a critical communication platform for individuals, businesses, and government services across India. As a result, authorities have intensified scrutiny of the platform's operations. Following a major global WhatsApp outage in 2022, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had also sought an explanation from Meta regarding the disruption.

Industry experts believe the government's latest intervention highlights the growing focus on balancing user privacy with digital safety and accountability. The outcome of the ongoing discussions between Meta and Indian authorities is expected to influence how privacy-focused communication features are introduced in one of the world's largest digital markets.

Inputs from agencies.