Meta has held discussions with officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) after the Centre raised concerns over WhatsApp's proposed username feature, which would allow users to connect without sharing their phone numbers.
The government has directed Meta to submit a detailed explanation within three days and has asked the company to pause the rollout of the feature in India until consultations are completed. Officials are examining whether the feature could increase the risk of cyber fraud, phishing, impersonation, and other forms of online abuse.
According to government officials, the ability to communicate using usernames instead of phone numbers may make it more difficult to identify malicious users and could be exploited by cybercriminals to create deceptive identities. Authorities have sought details on the safeguards Meta plans to implement before the feature is introduced to Indian users.
Meta has informed the government that the username feature has not yet been fully launched and will be introduced gradually. The company said users will still need a phone number to register on WhatsApp and that multiple security measures have been built into the feature, including protections against impersonation, restrictions on unsolicited messaging, and reserved usernames for prominent public figures and verified accounts.
The latest development reflects the Indian government's increasing scrutiny of digital platforms and their privacy and security features. In recent days, similar notices have also been issued to other messaging platforms, including Telegram and Signal, seeking clarification on username-based communication systems and the measures they have in place to prevent misuse.
The outcome of the discussions between Meta and the IT Ministry is expected to influence how username-based messaging features are introduced in India, one of WhatsApp's largest markets.
