WhatsApp Replies to Centre on Username Feature; Government Reviews Response
The ministry said the feature could raise fraud and impersonation risks as WhatsApp prepares a reply on its rollout plans.
- On Thursday, Meta-owned WhatsApp submitted its reply to the Government regarding the proposed 'username' feature, which Secretary Krishnan confirmed the Ministry is examining.
- The Centre issued a notice last Wednesday questioning the proposed feature, flagging concerns that it could materially increase incidents of online fraud, phishing, digital-arrest scams, and impersonation attacks.
- WhatsApp stated the feature is not yet live and includes safety layers, such as holding high-profile names and limiting message attempts, to protect users from impersonation and abuse.
- After questioning WhatsApp, the Ministry also issued notices to Telegram and Signal, demanding details on how these platforms address fraud and impersonation risks in their existing username features.
- Regulatory scrutiny continues, as the Government issued a stern notice to Meta regarding child sexual abuse material in Instagram ads, while Telegram was directed to combat the "widespread dissemination" of pirated content.
28 Articles
28 Articles
WhatsApp replies to Centre on username feature; government reviews response
New Delhi: Meta-owned WhatsApp has submitted its response to the Centre's notice over its proposed username feature, and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is examining the company's reply, as per media reports. The government issued the notice last week, expressing concerns that the feature could increase the risk of cyber fraud, phishing, impersonation and so-called "digital arrest" scams. It also asked WhatsApp not…
The username function at WhatsApp is intended to protect mobile phone numbers, but raises security and data protection concerns. India is already taking action against the function.
WhatsApp ‘username' feature faces government scrutiny as Meta submits response to MeitY
Meta has submitted its response to the Indian government regarding WhatsApp’s new usernames feature, which is currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
WhatsApp's Username Feature Still on Hold in India as Centre Reviews Response
MeitY reviews WhatsApp's response to fraud and security concerns surrounding its proposed Username feature before deciding on its rollout in India. The Centre is reviewing WhatsApp's response to concerns over its upcoming username feature before deciding whether it can be launched in India.
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