India Raises Concerns Over WhatsApp's Username Feature

Jul 1, 2026

44 min

Jul 1, 2026 15:30

India government raises concerns over WhatsApp's new username feature

## Government Concerns

The Indian government is considering sending a notice to Meta regarding WhatsApp's planned username feature. Officials are worried that this new feature could facilitate fraud and impersonation by allowing users to connect without sharing phone numbers.

## Potential Risks

The feature, similar to those on platforms like Telegram, lets users create unique usernames. While WhatsApp claims this enhances privacy, government sources fear it could be exploited by fraudsters to conceal their identities and deceive users.

## Regulatory Compliance

There are also concerns about compliance with Indian regulations, which mandate messaging platforms to link accounts to verified mobile numbers. The Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024, emphasize SIM-based verification to prevent online fraud.

## Expert Warnings

Cybersecurity experts have cautioned that without proper safeguards, the username feature could be misused. They stress the importance of ensuring new features do not enable scams or misinformation.

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