Govt orders Meta to halt WhatsApp username rollout, seeks reply in 3 days

The government on Wednesday ordered Meta not to roll out WhatsApp's proposed username feature in India until consultations on its privacy and security implications are completed, issuing the company a notice and seeking a detailed explanation within three days. Meta has yet to publicly respond to the government's notice.

The government's move marks the first official intervention by the government into WhatsApp's planned username-based messaging system, which would allow users to connect without sharing their mobile phone numbers. Officials are examining whether the feature has adequate safeguards to prevent misuse by cybercriminals and whether it could make it harder to identify fraudulent accounts.

In a notice to the Chief Compliance Officer of Meta, India Operations, the government has asked the company to explain how the feature will work, what mechanisms will be in place to verify users, and how the company plans to prevent impersonation, online fraud



and other forms of abuse. The company has also been told not to launch the feature in India until the ongoing review and consultations are completed.

The move comes as WhatsApp prepares to introduce one of its biggest privacy changes in recent years by allowing users to connect through unique usernames instead of sharing their mobile phone numbers. The feature is intended to give users greater privacy and control over their personal information.

It also comes against the backdrop of a sharp rise in cyber fraud in India. Investigators have increasingly flagged WhatsApp as a key platform used by fraudsters to initiate scams ranging from fake investment schemes and digital arrest frauds to impersonation and phishing attacks.

Officials are assessing whether allowing users to communicate through usernames instead of phone numbers could create new challenges in tracing offenders while balancing the platform's privacy commitments.