The Meta app has started gradually rolling out a new feature on WhatsApp, allowing users to reserve ID names to connect, rather than relying solely on phone numbers. This change promises to change the way people find and interact within the platform.
The innovation, which is expected to be extended throughout this year, is already raising alarms in several nations, with India in particular, where authorities and security experts express fear that the system could encourage scams and the creation of false profiles. Discussions intensified after reports that names of public figures were tested and, in some cases, misused.
While the company guarantees that it will implement mechanisms to protect official identities, regulatory bodies and digital security experts raise questions about whether the new model can, in practice, open new loopholes for the occurrence of fraud and impersonation.
Impact on digital identification and protection debates
The implementation of usernames introduces a profound change in WhatsApp’s operating architecture. Historically, the platform used the phone number as the main, and often unique, identifier for its users. This dependence on an identifier directly linked to a telecommunications service offered a layer of authenticity, albeit imperfect. With the recent update, communication will be expanded, also allowing interactions through “usernames” freely chosen by internet users, which redefines identity validation in the digital age.
Recently, many names linked to prominent personalities and institutions were accessible for booking, encompassing references to politicians, famous Bollywood artists and large corporate conglomerates.
Meta informed that it will make preventive reserves of some names related to authorities, government bodies and public figures. The objective is to prevent misuse, but the company did not detail the specific criteria that would be used to block these variations.
Concern about the new model reached the Indian government. India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology stated that the functionality has the potential to increase cases of phishing, scams and the spread of “fake digital identities”, in addition to facilitating malicious contacts without exposing the phone number.
In a statement that had widespread repercussions, the agency requested formal clarifications from WhatsApp and expressed doubts about continuing the launch without carrying out additional consultations. The Ministry also signaled the possibility of adopting legal measures, supported by local legislation, if concerns are not properly addressed.
On the other hand, groups defending digital rights criticize government interference. The Internet Freedom Foundation argues that detailed case-by-case regulation could give the government excessive power over platform design decisions, creating an environment of uncertainty for companies and users.
Security risks and the issue of privacy
Cybersecurity experts have a dual view on the change. Rachel Tobac, CEO of SocialProof Security, assesses that the feature can mitigate risks often associated with exposing phone numbers, such as SIM swap attacks and targeted phishing attempts.
In a statement to TechCrunch, she emphasized: “Ultimately, usernames are an excellent alternative to avoiding the need to disclose your phone number to strangers, but it is equally critical to verify identity through this username function.”
Despite the positive aspect, Rachel Tobac recognizes that similar names can be used in fraud attempts, demanding extra caution from users when verifying the true identity of their contacts.
The Mozilla Foundation organization also warns of the dangers of the new functionality. According to the entity, the newly introduced system could increase the number of scams and cases of impersonation, since identification via telephone number would no longer act as a robust validation tool.
In return, Meta announced that it will allow the connection of usernames from Instagram and Facebook accounts to WhatsApp. The expectation is that this integration will help reduce inconsistencies and facilitate the identification of authentic profiles within the company’s own ecosystem.
