Government seeks explanation as scrutiny of anonymous messaging intensifies
India has directed WhatsApp to justify its planned username feature and suspend its rollout in the country pending government consultations, according to an official letter reviewed by Reuters. The notice, dated July 1, gives the Meta-owned messaging platform three days to respond and instructs it not to launch the feature until the review process is complete.
The proposed feature would allow users to create unique usernames and eventually communicate without sharing their mobile phone numbers. WhatsApp recently announced that it had begun a phased global rollout of the feature, including preparations for its launch in India.
The Indian government expressed concerns that the change could increase online fraud, phishing attacks, impersonation, and digital scam operations by making it easier for malicious actors to hide their identities while contacting potential victims.
Privacy feature draws regulatory attention
A Meta spokesperson said the username feature is not yet active and emphasised that the company has reserved usernames for public figures, government organisations and verified Meta accounts to reduce the risk of impersonation. The company added that the initiative is intended to provide users with greater privacy while maintaining security safeguards.
However, Indian authorities remain cautious, arguing that enhanced anonymity could complicate investigations into cybercrime and make it more difficult to identify offenders.
Broader crackdown on messaging platforms
The latest move follows India’s recent action against Telegram, which temporarily faced restrictions over similar privacy-related features allowing users to communicate without revealing phone numbers. Authorities have also increased scrutiny of major digital platforms in recent years over online safety, content moderation and compliance with local regulations.
According to a recent report by India’s Home Ministry reviewed by Reuters, privacy-focused communication tools may hinder identity verification and have increasingly been exploited in cyber fraud schemes. The report urged closer oversight of such technologies.
India remains WhatsApp’s largest market, with more than 500 million users. Consequently, the government’s intervention places renewed pressure on the platform as it balances user privacy, product innovation and regulatory compliance in one of its most important markets.
