The Centre is working on a common set of rules for messaging platforms after raising objections to WhatsApp’s proposed username feature, citing concerns over impersonation, online fraud and challenges for law enforcement.
According to a government official familiar with the matter, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is examining the need for uniform standards so that messaging platforms operating in India are governed by the same regulatory framework.
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The development comes a day after WhatsApp and Telegram submitted their responses to notices issued by the ministry explaining the safeguards built into their username features. Signal, which also received a notice, is yet to respond.
Why is the Centre opposing WhatsApp’s username feature?
According to the official, the government believes introducing usernames on a platform with WhatsApp’s massive user base could make impersonation, digital arrest scams and online fraud easier while complicating criminal investigations.
“We are not in favour of WhatsApp introducing this feature. Given its massive user base in India, usernames could make impersonation, digital arrest scams, online fraud and even investigations by law enforcement more difficult,” the official told Hindustan Times.
The government is also examining the responses submitted by WhatsApp and Telegram before taking a final decision on the issue.
What could the new messaging rules mean?
The proposed framework aims to establish common standards for all messaging platforms instead of regulating individual services differently.
Officials said the ministry wants legal backing to ensure similar features are treated uniformly across platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal and Arattai.
“It cannot be that we stop one platform from rolling out a feature while allowing others to continue offering the same thing. The rules have to be uniform for everyone,” the official said, adding that discussions will be held with messaging platforms before finalising any framework.
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Currently, messaging services operate as intermediaries under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. However, neither explicitly specifies which product features messaging platforms can or cannot introduce.
Following the government’s scrutiny, Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu said on X that the company’s messaging app, Arattai, would disable its username-based account feature to comply with the regulatory change.
Meanwhile, digital rights advocates and legal experts have questioned whether the existing IT Act and intermediary rules give MeitY the authority to regulate the design of messaging platforms.
FAQs
Why is the Centre objecting to WhatsApp’s username feature?
The government says usernames could increase impersonation, digital arrest scams, online fraud and make law enforcement investigations more difficult.
Will the new rules apply only to WhatsApp?
No. The Centre is considering common standards for all messaging platforms, including Telegram, Signal and other services operating in India.