WhatsApp Username Feature: Will WhatsApp’s new username feature increase cyber fraud? Government is investigating Meta’s response

Meta, which is preparing to make chat on WhatsApp without disclosing the mobile number, will have to wait for the approval of the Government of India. The government had sought a response from the company regarding the proposed Username feature of WhatsApp, on which Meta has now sent its stand. The Central Government is currently reviewing this reply in detail and is also considering making a uniform policy for the rules related to username.

Actually, WhatsApp is preparing to bring such a feature, through which people will be able to connect with each other only on the basis of username without sharing their mobile number. However, the government fears that this facility could become a new weapon for cyber criminals.

In view of this concern, last week the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had issued a notice to Meta. The government had said that if the use of only username instead of mobile number starts, then cases of cyber crimes like fake identity, online fraud, phishing, digital arrest and other types of fraud may increase. In such a situation, identifying criminals will become more difficult than before.

In its notice, the government had given clear instructions to WhatsApp that this feature should not be launched in India until all the necessary consultations with the government are completed. Besides, Meta was also asked why action should not be taken against him under the Information Technology Act and its related rules.

After receiving the notice, WhatsApp had asked for some additional time to file the reply. The company also assured that the Username feature will not be launched in India before the talks with the government are completed.

Now the government has received Meta’s reply. According to sources, the ministry is investigating every aspect of it. It is also being seen whether a uniform policy can be made for the rules related to username on social media and messaging platforms, so that in future the same standards are applicable to all companies.

At present the government has not taken any final decision in this matter. The next step will be decided only after the review of Meta’s response is completed. At the same time, after submitting the reply from the company, no official statement has been issued on this entire matter.