WhatsApp Responds To Centre’s Notice On Username Feature; Govt Reviewing Reply: Report

WhatsApp has submitted its response to the Centre’s notice over its proposed “username” feature, with the government currently examining the company’s reply, PTI sources said on Thursday.

Last Wednesday, the Centre issued a notice to Meta questioning WhatsApp’s planned username feature, expressing concerns that it could lead to a rise in online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams and impersonation.

The newly-proposed username feature would allow users to connect on the messaging platform without revealing their phone numbers.

What Centre Said To Meta In Notice?

The government had asked WhatsApp not to roll out the feature in India until consultations were completed “to the satisfaction of the government”.

Also Read: ‘Serious Possibility’: Govt Warns Of Cybercrime Risk Over WhatsApp’s

Proposed Username Feature

It also sought an explanation from Meta on why action should not be initiated under the IT Act and related rules, arguing that the feature could potentially increase cybercrime risks.

The notice reminded Meta that WhatsApp, as a significant social media intermediary, must comply with due diligence obligations under the IT Act and its accompanying rules.

After receiving the notice, WhatsApp requested additional time to file its response and assured the Centre that the username feature would not be launched in India until discussions with the government were concluded.

According to PTI sources, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has now received WhatsApp’s reply and is reviewing it. There has been no official statement from WhatsApp on the submission.

Earlier on Thursday, IT Secretary S Krishnan, speaking on the sidelines of the CII GCC Business Summit, said WhatsApp’s response to the notice was expected that day. Asked whether Telegram and Signal had responded to similar notices over their username features, Krishnan said, “There is still a little more time, so the replies have not yet been received…. We will examine this issue.”

The IT ministry had also summoned Meta officials following the notice, with a company delegation meeting ministry representatives last Friday.

‘Multiple Safeguards Built’: WhatsApp Clarifies On Username Feature

Last week, a WhatsApp spokesperson clarified that the username feature has not yet been launched and will be introduced gradually later this year.

“To protect against impersonation, we have held the highest-profile names — think public figures, government entities, celebrities, verified Meta accounts — so they can only ever be claimed by their legitimate owners, and lookalike derivatives of known names are held as well,” the spokesperson had said.

Also Read: WhatsApp Username Feature Explained: Why Is It Sparking Privacy Fears?

The company also stressed that users would still need a phone number to create and use a WhatsApp account, adding that multiple safeguards have been built into the feature.

“Other users need to know the exact username to message you. We will limit how many new people an account can contact, block repeated attempts to guess someone’s username key and have systems to detect and remove activity showing common impersonation and abuse patterns,” the spokesperson had said.

WhatsApp further said users would receive additional context when contacted through a username for the first time.

“When the feature becomes available and someone sends a message for the first time via your username, we will show you if they are a new account, if they are your contact, if you have groups in common and if they are based in a different country, so you can decide whether to respond,” the company had said.

Following its notice to WhatsApp, the government also issued similar notices to Telegram and Signal, seeking details on how their existing username systems address concerns around fraud and impersonation.

In recent days, Meta and Telegram have also come under regulatory scrutiny on other issues.

The government served Meta with a notice over alleged child sexual abuse material appearing in Instagram advertisements, while Telegram was directed to curb the widespread circulation of pirated films, OTT content and other audio-visual material on its platform.

With inputs from PTI