The Centre has issued a notice to WhatsApp over its newly-introduced username feature, raising concerns that it could lead to impersonation, identity theft and online fraud. The government has asked the Meta-owned messaging platform to explain the feature and pause its rollout until consultations are completed.
According to the notice issued by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and cited by Hindustan Times, WhatsApp has been asked to submit its response within three days. The Ministry has also sought details on the safeguards introduced to prevent misuse of the feature.
Concerns over fraud and impersonation
WhatsApp announced the username feature earlier this week as a privacy-focused update that allows users to connect without sharing their phone numbers. The platform has already started allowing users to reserve unique usernames.
Also Read | Will WhatsApp usernames become the next tool for online scammers?
However, the government said the feature could increase risks linked to digital fraud and impersonation.
“It is felt that the feature may materially increase the incidence of online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams and impersonation attacks, by enabling bad actors to solicit and message victims,” the notice said, as quoted by HT.
The notice further stated, “Furthermore, this feature may facilitate impersonation and identity spoofing, including impersonation of individuals, public authorities, financial institutions, and government agencies, by permitting the adoption of usernames closely resembling those of genuine persons or institutions.”
A senior ministry official told HT that discussions with the company would be held soon to assess the possible risks associated with the feature.
Username reservations are here, as more and more people claim theirs, here’s answers to the top questions you’re asking ⬇️
Q: Are usernames mandatory?
A: Nope, they are optional.
Q: What if the username I want isn’t available?
A: There’s a few reasons you might not be able to…— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) July 1, 2026
Government cites IT rules
The Centre also asked WhatsApp to explain why action should not be initiated under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021. The government noted that the company has due diligence obligations as a significant social media intermediary.
WhatsApp highlights safeguards
Responding to the concerns, a WhatsApp spokesperson said the company had introduced several protections to prevent misuse.
“To protect against impersonation, we’ve held the highest-profile names — think public figures, government entities, celebrities, verified Meta accounts — so they can only ever be claimed by their legitimate owners and lookalike derivatives of known names are held as well,” the spokesperson told HT.
Also Read | Delhi HC orders removal of defamatory posts targeting Raghav Chadha
The company added that phone numbers remain mandatory for using WhatsApp and that additional measures, including abuse detection systems and contextual information about new contacts, have been introduced to help users identify suspicious accounts.
FAQs:
Why has the Centre issued a notice to WhatsApp?
The government has raised concerns about fraud, phishing and impersonation risks linked to the username feature.
Has WhatsApp stopped rolling out the username feature?
The government has asked the company to hold off the rollout until consultations are completed.
