India has formally requested that Meta delay the launch of WhatsApp's username feature in the country, expressing serious concerns about potential increases in fraud and impersonation. The move comes as Indian authorities struggle with a surge in cybercrime, exploiting low digital literacy among millions of internet users.
WhatsApp's username feature and privacy claims
WhatsApp, which is owned by US tech giant Meta, announced on Monday that users worldwide would soon be able to connect via unique usernames instead of sharing their phone numbers. The company stated that the feature was designed to enhance privacy by allowing users to communicate without revealing their phone numbers.
India's concerns and official response
India, WhatsApp's largest market with over half a billion users, voiced its concerns on Wednesday. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology sent a letter to Meta warning that the feature could facilitate online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks, according to a report by the Indian Express newspaper.
“There is a possibility that bad actors may claim usernames... and message other users while pretending to be someone they are not,” a senior government official was quoted as saying. “For those who may not be technologically aware to make out the difference, it could be a huge challenge.”
The ministry has asked Meta not to roll out the feature until consultations on the matter are concluded.
Meta's response and safeguards
Meta has stated that the username feature is not yet live in India. The company has already reserved usernames for public figures and verified accounts to prevent impersonation. “To protect against impersonation, we've held the highest-profile names... so they can only ever be claimed by their legitimate owners,” Meta said in a statement. “Users still require a phone number to use WhatsApp and we've built multiple layers of defense against scams into usernames.”
Recent developments at WhatsApp India
Last month, Meta appointed Indian fintech entrepreneur Kunal Shah as the new head of WhatsApp in India. The move is seen as part of Meta's efforts to strengthen its operations in the country.
