India tells WhatsApp to halt usernames rollout, justify feature or face action
The ministry said the feature could increase fraud and impersonation, and gave WhatsApp three days to explain its safeguards.
- On Wednesday, India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology directed WhatsApp to halt its username feature rollout, citing concerns the anonymity could increase fraud and impersonation attacks.
- India, WhatsApp's biggest market with more than 850 million users, has seen cybercrime spike with nearly 102,000 cases registered in 2024, up 18% from the previous year.
- WhatsApp, owned by Mark Zuckerberg-led Meta, defended the update as a "core privacy feature," with Vice President Alice Newton-Rex noting safeguards including reserved high-profile usernames to prevent impersonation.
- The ministry's notice gave the platform three days to respond and barred the rollout until consultations with the government concluded to their satisfaction.
- Criticizing the order, the Internet Freedom Foundation argued it has "no clear basis in law," while the intervention marks an escalation in India's policing of global tech platforms.
86 Articles
86 Articles
Why WhatsApp Usernames Have Sparked Security Debate in India? Meta Answers
WhatsApp's username feature has triggered a security debate in India, with the government putting its rollout on hold. In an exclusive conversation with Mashable India, Meta explains the safeguards behind the feature, while cybersecurity experts assess whether the concerns are justified. India has hit pause on WhatsApp usernames over scam concerns, but Meta and cybersecurity experts say the feature's success will depend on strong anti-impersonat…
How Can Usernames Be Misrepresented? Here's Why the Govt Is Concerned
The Centre's concerns over username-based messaging features stem from the possibility of fraudsters impersonating individuals, businesses and government agencies. Unlike phone numbers, usernames are chosen by users. This means someone can create a username that closely resembles the name of a
WhatsApp announced new details about its next user name system, a feature that will allow people to identify themselves on the platform without relying exclusively on their phone number and that will incorporate a “user name key” as an additional layer of security.
Telegram, Signal asked by IT Ministry to explain anti-fraud measures in username features after WhatsApp notice
The government has sought explanations from these platforms on how they are addressing risks of fraud, impersonation, and misuse associated with usernames that enable users to connect without sharing phone numbers.
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