Indian authorities block WhatsApp username functionality and demand explanations from Meta
The Indian government has suspended the distribution of usernames on WhatsApp and sent a notification to Meta, the platform’s parent company. Authorities demand justifications for the implementation of the new tool, which they consider a potential vector for the increase in cybercrimes.
Meta had started releasing the username feature on WhatsApp last Monday, June 29, after a considerable period of anticipation. The functionality was already available to some users in Brazil, who had the opportunity to reserve their own “usernames”. The main purpose was to improve privacy by allowing people to connect without needing to share their phone numbers.
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Indian concerns about user security on WhatsApp
In the official document sent to WhatsApp’s head of compliance in India, the Indian government expressed fears that the new feature could boost cases of online fraud, phishing scams and identity forgery. The main claim is that usernames would make it easier to contact potential victims without requiring access to their phone numbers.
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The Indian management gave Meta a period of three days to provide detailed clarifications on how the tool works. In case of non-compliance or unsatisfactory explanations, the company may face severe sanctions, in accordance with the technological regulations in force in the country.
This is not the first time that India has taken a firm stance against large digital platforms, a reflection of its growing assertiveness in technological governance of a market with millions of users. Recently, the Telegram application was temporarily banned in June, a measure justified by the government to combat fraud related to national medical school entrance exams. This standard demonstrates Indian regulatory rigor and attention to the social impacts of new features on global platforms.
The defense of the Goal in the face of government demands
In response to the press, Meta stated that the need for a phone number to use WhatsApp will remain, which, according to the company, would serve as an obstacle or limit to the actions of criminals. The company also highlighted the implementation of multiple layers of protection designed to combat scams associated with usernames.
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Among the safeguards mentioned are restrictions on the number of new contacts an account can initiate, blocking repeated attempts to guess usernames, and enabling advanced systems to identify and eliminate patterns of abuse and identity theft.
Finally, Meta reinforced that the complete implementation of usernames is still in progress, with the functionality scheduled to be released gradually to all users by the end of the year.
