Zoho Corporation's instant messaging platform Arattai will discontinue its username-based account feature to align with regulatory requirements, as announced by co-founder and chief scientist Sridhar Vembu on July 3, 2026. The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny from the Indian government over similar features planned by Meta for WhatsApp.
Regulatory Compliance Drives Change
In a post on his official X account, Vembu stated: "We will be disabling the user name based account feature in Arattai, to comply with the regulatory change." The move follows a notice issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to Meta regarding the rollout of a username feature on WhatsApp in India.
Government Concerns Over Username Feature
On June 30, 2026, the Centre directed Meta to provide a detailed explanation within three days, warning that the username feature could escalate online fraud, phishing, and "digital arrest" scams. The notice emphasized that the feature "may materially increase the incidence of online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams and impersonation attacks, by enabling bad actors to solicit and message victims." It further noted that usernames could facilitate impersonation of individuals, public authorities, financial institutions, and government agencies by allowing adoption of names closely resembling genuine entities.
Meta's Response and Safeguards
Meta has been asked not to launch the username feature until satisfactory consultations with the government are completed. A WhatsApp spokesperson confirmed that the option to reserve preferred usernames has been announced but is not yet live, with a gradual rollout expected later in 2026. To mitigate impersonation risks, Meta stated it has "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."
Impact on Arattai Users
Arattai, Zoho's homegrown messaging app, will remove the username-based account feature entirely. Existing users will be affected by the change, though specific timelines for the disablement have not been disclosed by Vembu. The app will likely revert to alternative identification methods, such as phone numbers or email-based accounts, to comply with regulatory norms.
Broader Implications for Digital Identity in India
The government's stance reflects increasing vigilance over digital identity and fraud prevention. India has witnessed a surge in cybercrimes, including phishing and impersonation scams, prompting regulators to scrutinize features that could be exploited. The notice to Meta and Zoho's proactive compliance signal a tightening of rules for messaging platforms operating in the country. Industry experts anticipate that other apps may follow suit to avoid regulatory penalties.
