Image@ BBC
India has directed WhatsApp to suspend the planned rollout of a new username-based messaging feature, warning that it could fuel cybercrime, phishing and identity impersonation.
The proposed update would allow users to communicate through unique usernames instead of sharing their phone numbers.
The feature is expected to reach WhatsApp’s three billion users worldwide in phases over the coming months.
In a notice issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, authorities instructed the Meta-owned platform not to introduce the feature until government concerns had been fully addressed.
Officials also sought an explanation from the company on why legal action should not be considered under Indian law.
The ministry argued that the change could make it easier for fraudsters to approach victims anonymously and create usernames resembling those of government agencies, financial institutions, businesses and public figures, increasing the risk of deception.
India, WhatsApp’s largest market with more than 850 million users, has intensified scrutiny of major technology companies and their digital services in recent years.
Responding to the notice, WhatsApp said the username system has not yet been launched and stressed that several protective measures have already been built into the service.
The company said reserved usernames would prevent unauthorised use of names linked to public officials, celebrities, verified Meta accounts and government organisations, while similar-looking names would also be restricted.
WhatsApp added that users would still need a mobile number to register an account.
It said additional protections include limits on how many unfamiliar people a new account can contact, safeguards against repeated attempts to guess usernames, and technology designed to identify suspicious behaviour and remove abusive accounts.
The platform also noted that first-time chat requests would display information such as whether the sender is a new user, shares mutual groups, is already in the recipient’s contacts or is located in another country, enabling people to make informed decisions before responding.
The government’s action comes amid rising concern over online financial crime.
Official data show nearly 102,000 cybercrime cases were recorded across India in 2024, representing an 18 percent increase from the previous year, with online fraud accounting for almost three-quarters of reported offences.
The Internet Freedom Foundation criticised the government’s intervention, arguing that existing legislation does not grant authorities the power to require prior approval before a technology company introduces new product features.
The organisation described the notice as lacking a clear legal foundation.
The latest dispute follows a series of measures aimed at tightening oversight of global digital platforms.
Earlier this year, India shortened the deadline for social media companies to remove unlawful content after receiving official notices.
Authorities also temporarily blocked Telegram during the repeat of a national medical entrance examination, maintaining that features allowing anonymous interactions created obstacles for law enforcement.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong