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WhatsApp launched the 'Username' feature in late June, allowing users to chat on the platform using a name instead of a phone number. However, citing concerns over the risk of online scams, the Indian government expressed apprehension about this new feature and issued a notice to parent company Meta last week; a response has since been received.

According to a PTI report, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) stated that WhatsApp's latest 'Username' feature could become a new tool for scammers to defraud people. It could facilitate crimes such as online fraud, phishing, and "digital arrest" scams. Due to the potential for an increase in such incidents, the notice was issued to Meta.

What did the notice say?

The notice asked Meta to explain why it had not taken the IT Act and relevant regulations into account when implementing the new feature. It also reminded the company that, as a social media platform, it has a responsibility not to disregard these regulations.

Feature put on hold

The report further states that Meta submitted its response on Thursday, which is currently under review. The new feature will remain suspended until the investigation is concluded. Notably, the feature was introduced to enhance user privacy by enabling chats without sharing phone numbers; however, action was taken due to fears regarding rising digital fraud.

Meeting with officials

After issuing the notice, the IT Ministry summoned Meta officials to discuss the matter. A meeting was held on Friday, during which Meta officials presented their perspective on the feature. Discussions on the issue are ongoing, and no official update has been released yet.

Notices sent to Telegram and Signal

Apart from WhatsApp, notices have also been sent to Telegram and Signal, but neither platform has responded yet. It is expected that both may provide a response in the coming days.