The Indian government has reportedly asked Meta to postpone the introduction of WhatsApp’s new username feature in the country, raising concerns that the update could fuel cybercrime and online impersonation.
According to reports, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology requested that the feature should not be rolled out in India until further discussions are completed over its potential security risks.
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, recently announced that users across the globe will soon be able to communicate using unique usernames instead of sharing their mobile phone numbers. The company said the feature is intended to improve user privacy by allowing people to connect without exposing their personal contact details.
However, Indian authorities fear the change could make it easier for fraudsters to deceive unsuspecting users.
India is WhatsApp’s biggest market, with more than 500 million users, making any platform update particularly significant. The country has experienced a sharp rise in cyber-related crimes in recent years, including phishing attacks, impersonation scams and so-called “digital arrest” fraud, where criminals pose as law enforcement officials to extort money from victims.
According to the Indian Express, government officials warned that scammers could create usernames resembling those of trusted individuals or organisations and use them to mislead users who may not be familiar with the platform’s security features.
A senior government official was quoted as saying that people with limited digital literacy could struggle to distinguish genuine accounts from fake ones, increasing their vulnerability to online scams.
The report added that Indian authorities have asked Meta to suspend the launch of the feature while consultations with the government continue.
Meta maintained that the username system has not yet been introduced in India and said safeguards are already in place to reduce the risk of impersonation.
The company explained that usernames linked to high-profile individuals, public figures and verified accounts have been reserved so they can only be claimed by their legitimate owners.
Meta also stressed that a valid phone number will still be required to create and use a WhatsApp account, adding that multiple security measures have been built into the new username system to help detect and prevent fraudulent activities.
The development comes only weeks after Meta appointed Indian fintech entrepreneur Kunal Shah as the new head of WhatsApp, as the messaging platform continues to expand its services in one of its most important global markets.
