Indian Government Suspends WhatsApp Usernames Feature Over Fraud Concerns

The Indian government has directed WhatsApp (Meta) to suspend the rollout of its new Usernames feature in India, citing concerns over online fraud, phishing, impersonation, and digital scams. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a formal notice asking WhatsApp to explain the security measures behind the feature and instructed the company not to launch it in India until regulatory consultations are completed.

The proposed feature would allow users to communicate using unique usernames instead of sharing their phone numbers. While this is intended to improve user privacy, government officials believe it could make it easier for cybercriminals to impersonate public officials, hide their identities, and target victims through fraudulent messages and calls. Authorities have requested a detailed response from WhatsApp within three days, outlining the safeguards implemented to prevent misuse.

The move highlights India's growing focus on strengthening digital security and protecting users from cyber-enabled fraud. Until the government is satisfied with WhatsApp's security and compliance measures, the usernames feature will remain unavailable for users in India, even as it continues rolling out in other countries.

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