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There is a lot of buzz lately regarding WhatsApp's new username feature. Amidst this, Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu has announced that his homegrown messaging app, Arattai, is dropping the username feature. Let’s understand what this is all about.

What is WhatsApp's username feature, and why did it spark a controversy?
Meta was preparing to introduce a new feature on its messaging app, WhatsApp, that would allow users to set a username instead of relying on mobile numbers. The company planned to roll this out by the end of the year and was even offering an option to reserve usernames. However, on Wednesday, the Indian government issued a notice to Meta, directing it to immediately halt this feature. The company has also been instructed to provide a response within three days.

Why did the government impose a ban?
The government believes that the username feature could lead to a significant rise in incidents like online fraud. Scammers could easily deceive people by creating fake or lookalike usernames, making it difficult to identify the genuine person and leaving ordinary users vulnerable to fraud. The company had, however, clarified that the feature would be entirely optional.

Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu's decision
In light of this situation and the government's concerns, Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu shared a post on X. He clarified that, in compliance with the government's new rules and directives, they are discontinuing the username-based account feature on their messaging app, Arattai, as well.

Key downsides of username-based accounts
There are several security-related concerns regarding the username feature, which can be understood as follows:

Risk of fake identities: It would become difficult for the average person to distinguish between genuine and fake accounts.

Increase in cyber fraud: Scammers could easily dupe people by exploiting similar-looking usernames. Impersonation of celebrities and brands: Fake accounts created in the names of major companies and famous personalities could be used to deceive people.

Social engineering attacks: There is a risk of an increase in spam messages and phishing links.
Challenge for law enforcement: Police and investigative agencies will face significant difficulties in identifying and tracking down the actual perpetrators.

WhatsApp issues clarification
Amidst this uproar, WhatsApp has clarified its stance through a post on its official X account. The company stated that the username feature is entirely optional; enabling or disabling it will be left to the user's discretion. Additionally, WhatsApp noted that usernames for public figures and celebrities have already been secured to prevent impersonation.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.