Representatives of Meta met officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Friday, July 3, following the Indian government's notice regarding the proposed rollout of the "usernames" feature on WhatsApp in India, according to sources.
Government Raises Concerns Over Impersonation and Fraud
During the meeting, ministry officials apprised Meta of the government's concerns about the feature. The Union Government had earlier issued a notice to Meta, directing the company to provide a detailed explanation of the usernames feature within three days. Meta will submit its final response within the stipulated timeline, sources confirmed.
The government has also directed Meta not to roll out the feature in India until consultations on the matter are completed. This move comes after privacy and safety concerns were raised, particularly regarding the possibility of impersonation and misuse.
How WhatsApp's Usernames Feature Works
According to Meta, a username is an optional and unique identifier that users can choose for their WhatsApp account. Beginning with the "@" symbol, the username can be used by others to message or call a user without revealing the person's phone number. Meta clarified that the username is different from a display name, which appears on a user's profile. While display names do not have to be unique, usernames are unique to each account.
The company also stated that people who do not have a user's phone number saved will see the username by default when interacting through direct messages, calls, or group chats. Certain usernames will be reserved for businesses, governments, and public figures and cannot be claimed by others.
Expert and Public Concerns Over Cybercrime Risks
However, internet users and domain experts have raised concerns that the feature could allow cybercriminals to create usernames resembling those of individuals, organisations, or government officials, increasing the risk of impersonation and fraud. Government sources indicated that authorities are examining the legal implications of the feature and the available legal mechanisms to address concerns if required.
The outcome of the consultations and Meta's response to the government's notice are expected to determine the next course of action regarding the rollout of the feature in India.
