WhatsApp’s new username feature has started a fresh debate between the Indian government and Meta over online safety, privacy, and digital rules. The feature allows people to chat without sharing their phone numbers, but the government believes it could also create new risks for cybercrime. What started as a product update has now become a larger regulatory issue, with the Centre also sending similar notices to Telegram and Signal.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has reportedly asked WhatsApp to explain how the new feature follows Indian laws and has sought a detailed response within three days. According to reports, the ministry has also asked the company to pause the rollout of the feature until discussions with the government are completed. Similar notices have now been sent to Telegram and Signal as officials review messaging apps that use username-based communication.
Government Worried About Cyber Fraud and User Identity
The Indian government’s biggest concern is that usernames may make it easier for scammers to hide their identities. Until now, users could often identify suspicious messages by looking at unknown or international phone numbers. If only usernames are shown, officials believe this warning sign may disappear, making it easier for fraudsters to pretend to be police officers, government officials, or other trusted people.
This concern comes at a time when India is already facing a rise in online scams, especially “digital arrest” frauds. In these scams, criminals pretend to be law enforcement officers and pressure people into sending money. The government believes that anonymous usernames could make these frauds even harder to stop.
Reports have also claimed that usernames similar to official government designations were successfully registered during testing. This has increased concerns that the current system may not be strong enough to prevent impersonation.
The issue is also linked to telecom rules introduced by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in late 2025. These rules asked messaging apps to keep user accounts connected to verified SIM cards to improve security. Officials now believe that username-based messaging could weaken this system if users no longer need to share their phone numbers while communicating.
The DoT had also introduced rules requiring messaging apps to regularly re-verify web sessions through automatic logouts. These measures were designed to reduce misuse by scammers operating from other locations. Authorities are now checking whether the new username feature fits within these security guidelines.
The Debate Over Encryption Continues
The latest issue has also brought back the long-running legal dispute between WhatsApp and the Indian government over encrypted messages.
Government officials have referred to Rule 4(2) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. This rule says that major social media platforms should be able to identify the “first originator” of a message when asked by a lawful authority.
WhatsApp has argued that following this rule would weaken its end-to-end encryption and affect users’ privacy. The company challenged the rule in the Delhi High Court in 2021, and the case is still pending.
Many legal experts believe the government’s action on usernames is connected to this larger disagreement over encryption, privacy, and law enforcement access. While the government says stronger rules are needed to fight cybercrime, privacy experts believe encrypted communication is important to protect users’ personal conversations.
Some experts have also questioned Meta’s long-term plans for usernames. They believe usernames could help Meta connect users’ activities across WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram more easily. This could improve personalised advertising and user profiling, although Meta has not said that this is the purpose of the feature.
Meta Says User Safety Measures Are Already in Place
Meta has defended the username feature by saying that every username is still linked to a registered phone number on its backend systems. According to the company, this means law enforcement agencies can still trace accounts through legal processes whenever required.
The company has also added an optional “username key,” which lets users set a PIN before unknown people can contact them for the first time. Meta says this extra layer of security is meant to protect users from unwanted messages while giving them more privacy.
The update also introduces Business-Scoped User IDs (BSUID) for businesses using the WhatsApp Business platform. These IDs are expected to make customer communication easier, but uncertainty over the rollout has raised concerns for companies that depend on WhatsApp for customer support and marketing.
The situation also shows how different countries are taking different approaches to digital regulation. While India is reviewing the security risks of usernames, the European Union has asked WhatsApp to make its platform more compatible with other messaging apps under its Digital Markets Act.
As discussions between the government and messaging platforms continue, the final decision could affect how privacy features are introduced in India in the future. Whether the username feature is approved with additional safeguards or faces more regulatory conditions, the outcome is likely to shape the future of online privacy, cybersecurity, and digital communication in the country.