New Delhi: The Indian government has directed WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, to delay the rollout of its planned “usernames” feature in the country until consultations with regulators and stakeholders are completed. The Centre has also asked the company to explain within three days why regulatory action should not be initiated over the proposed feature.
The proposed feature would allow users to connect on WhatsApp using unique usernames instead of sharing their phone numbers, offering an additional layer of privacy. While Meta has announced the feature globally, it has not yet been launched in India.
Government officials have raised concerns that username-based communication could increase the risk of impersonation, phishing, identity fraud, and so-called “digital arrest” scams, which have become more common in recent years. Authorities want Meta to demonstrate the safeguards it has put in place before the feature is introduced.
According to the government notice, WhatsApp has been instructed not to launch the feature in India until the consultation process is complete. Officials are also examining whether the feature complies with India’s Information Technology Act and related rules governing online platforms.
In response, Meta said the username feature is intended to enhance user privacy by allowing people to communicate without revealing their phone numbers. The company added that the feature will include protections designed to prevent impersonation and misuse, but indicated it will engage with Indian authorities before any rollout.
India is WhatsApp’s largest market, with hundreds of millions of users, making any regulatory decision significant for the platform’s global product strategy. The latest move also reflects the government’s increasing scrutiny of new digital features that may have implications for user safety, privacy and cybersecurity.
The outcome of the consultations will determine whether WhatsApp can introduce usernames in India and what additional safeguards, if any, the government may require before approving the feature.
