Centre Asks Meta to Explain WhatsApp Username Feature, Puts India Rollout On Hold

The Central Government has asked Meta to explain its proposed WhatsApp username feature, raising concerns that it could make it easier for cybercriminals to hide their identities.

According to reports, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has sent a notice to the company, seeking a detailed response within three days.

The government has also instructed Meta not to launch the new feature in India until discussions with authorities are completed.

The upcoming update would allow WhatsApp users to connect through unique usernames instead of sharing their phone numbers.

While the feature is designed to improve user privacy, officials fear it could also make it harder for law enforcement agencies to identify people involved in online fraud, impersonation, and other cybercrimes.

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Government officials are reportedly concerned that the system could create challenges similar to those seen on Telegram, where anonymous accounts have been linked to scams, illegal activities, and the spread of harmful content.

Authorities believe removing the visible connection between a WhatsApp account and a registered mobile number could slow cybercrime investigations and make it more difficult to file and process complaints through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

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Officials have also expressed concern that investigators may struggle to determine whether a suspect is operating from within India or from another country if phone numbers are hidden.

Meta is expected to submit its explanation to the government before any decision is taken on the feature’s rollout in India. The company has not yet officially announced a launch date for the username feature.