Centre examines WhatsApp's reply on username feature notice over fraud concerns
NEW DELHI: The Centre has received WhatsApp's response to its notice over the messaging platform's proposed 'username' feature and is currently examining the submission, according to sources. The reply was received on Thursday night after the government sought an explanation over concerns that the feature could increase online fraud, phishing, impersonation and so-called digital arrest scams . The scrutiny comes as the government has directed the Meta-owned platform not to roll out the feature in India until consultations are completed to its satisfaction.
Sources said WhatsApp submitted its response on Thursday night and that officials are now reviewing it. There has been no official statement from the company on the contents of its submission.
Earlier on Thursday, IT Secretary S Krishnan had indicated that WhatsApp's response was expected shortly. Speaking on the sidelines of the CII GCC Business Summit, he also said replies from Telegram and Signal, which were issued similar notices over their username features, had not yet been received.
"There is still a little more time, so the replies have not yet been received...we will examine this issue," Krishnan had said.
The IT Ministry had issued the notice to WhatsApp last Wednesday, questioning its proposed username feature, which would allow users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers. The government argued that such a change could materially increase cybercrime risks , including phishing, impersonation attacks, online fraud and digital arrest scams.
The notice also directed WhatsApp not to introduce the feature in India until discussions with the government are concluded. It further asked Meta to explain why action should not be initiated under the Information Technology Act and the relevant rules, reminding the company that WhatsApp, as a significant social media intermediary, is required to comply with due diligence obligations.
Following the notice, a Meta delegation met officials in the information and broadcasting ministry last Friday. WhatsApp subsequently sought additional time to submit its response and assured the government that the feature would not be launched in India until consultations were complete.
Last week, a WhatsApp spokesperson said the username feature was still under development and would be introduced gradually later this year.
"To protect against impersonation, we've held the highest-profile names, think public figures, government entities, celebrities, verified Meta accounts, so they can only ever be claimed by their legitimate owners and lookalike derivatives of known names are held as well," the spokesperson had said.
The company also stressed that users would still need a phone number to create and use a WhatsApp account, adding that several safeguards had been built into the feature to prevent abuse.
"Other users need to know the exact username to message you. We will limit how many new people an account can contact, block repeated attempts to guess someone's username key, and have systems to detect and remove activity showing common impersonation and abuse patterns," the spokesperson had said.
WhatsApp also said users would receive additional context before responding to first-time messages sent through usernames.
Sources said WhatsApp submitted its response on Thursday night and that officials are now reviewing it. There has been no official statement from the company on the contents of its submission.
Earlier on Thursday, IT Secretary S Krishnan had indicated that WhatsApp's response was expected shortly. Speaking on the sidelines of the CII GCC Business Summit, he also said replies from Telegram and Signal, which were issued similar notices over their username features, had not yet been received.
"There is still a little more time, so the replies have not yet been received...we will examine this issue," Krishnan had said.
The IT Ministry had issued the notice to WhatsApp last Wednesday, questioning its proposed username feature, which would allow users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers. The government argued that such a change could materially increase cybercrime risks , including phishing, impersonation attacks, online fraud and digital arrest scams.
The notice also directed WhatsApp not to introduce the feature in India until discussions with the government are concluded. It further asked Meta to explain why action should not be initiated under the Information Technology Act and the relevant rules, reminding the company that WhatsApp, as a significant social media intermediary, is required to comply with due diligence obligations.
Following the notice, a Meta delegation met officials in the information and broadcasting ministry last Friday. WhatsApp subsequently sought additional time to submit its response and assured the government that the feature would not be launched in India until consultations were complete.
Last week, a WhatsApp spokesperson said the username feature was still under development and would be introduced gradually later this year.
"To protect against impersonation, we've held the highest-profile names, think public figures, government entities, celebrities, verified Meta accounts, so they can only ever be claimed by their legitimate owners and lookalike derivatives of known names are held as well," the spokesperson had said.
The company also stressed that users would still need a phone number to create and use a WhatsApp account, adding that several safeguards had been built into the feature to prevent abuse.
"Other users need to know the exact username to message you. We will limit how many new people an account can contact, block repeated attempts to guess someone's username key, and have systems to detect and remove activity showing common impersonation and abuse patterns," the spokesperson had said.
WhatsApp also said users would receive additional context before responding to first-time messages sent through usernames.
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