A Meta team met officials from the Indian IT Ministry on Friday, July 3, following a government notice that raised concerns about the planned 'username' feature on WhatsApp, according to sources. The meeting comes after the Centre issued a notice on Wednesday, asking Meta to pause the feature until consultations are completed to the government's satisfaction.
Government Concerns Over Username Feature
The IT Ministry has expressed that the username feature could materially increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks. The government also sought an explanation from Meta on why action should not be initiated under the IT Act and rules over the feature's potential to facilitate cybercrimes.
Sources said that during the meeting, ministry officials sensitised the Meta team about the government's concerns. The timeline for furnishing a detailed explanation is three days, and Meta is expected to submit its final reply as per the schedule.
Meta's Response and Next Steps
Meta has confirmed that it will comply with the deadline and provide a comprehensive response. The company has not yet publicly commented on the specifics of the meeting or the potential adjustments to the username feature.
The username feature, which allows users to set unique identifiers for their WhatsApp accounts, was intended to enhance privacy. However, the government fears it could be exploited by malicious actors to impersonate individuals or organisations, leading to increased cyber threats.
This development underscores the ongoing tension between tech companies and regulatory authorities in India, where digital adoption is rapidly growing. The outcome of this consultation could set a precedent for how new features are evaluated for security risks before rollout.
