A team from Meta met officials of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Friday following the government's notice over WhatsApp's proposed username feature, with the company expected to submit a detailed response within the prescribed three-day deadline, according to a PTI report citing sources. The Centre directed WhatsApp to keep the rollout on hold until consultations are completed "to the satisfaction of the Government" after questioning the rollout of the feature and asking the company to pause its introduction until government consultations were completed. On Wednesday, the government issued a notice to Meta, expressing concerns that the proposed feature could materially increase the risk of online fraud, phishing attacks, impersonation and so-called digital arrest scams, as confirmed by sources familiar with the matter. The Centre also sought an explanation from Meta on why action should not be initiated under the provisions of the Information Technology Act and related rules over a feature that authorities believe could facilitate cybercrime. The government further reminded Meta that WhatsApp, as a significant social media intermediary, is required to comply with due diligence obligations prescribed under India's information technology regulations. According to sources, ministry officials conveyed the government's concerns over the proposed feature, particularly the risk of impersonation and misuse, as reported by NDTV Profit. Meta has been directed to submit its final explanation by Saturday, marking the end of the three-day deadline set by the government, with officials asking not to roll out the usernames feature for users in India until the consultation process is completed.
WhatsApp has introduced an optional four-digit security code as an extra layer of protection when users are contacted for the first time. As reported by Zee News, if enabled, a new contact will need both the username and the security code to send a message. People already saved in contacts, previous chats, group members or those who have scanned a QR code will not need this code to reach a user. The company has also secured usernames associated with public personalities, celebrities and government institutions to prevent impersonation. To avoid misuse, WhatsApp has reserved certain usernames during the rollout phase and introduced a username generator tool to help users create available handles if their first choice is already taken. In a detailed Q&A posted on X, WhatsApp confirmed that usernames would be entirely optional and, unlike phone numbers, cannot be searched on the platform, meaning random users cannot look someone up unless they already know the username. WhatsApp spokesperson confirmed that the ability to use a username is not yet live and will roll out slowly later this year, with users still requiring a phone number to use WhatsApp. In a post on X, WhatsApp said usernames are not mandatory and users can continue using the platform without creating one, addressing concerns about forced adoption.
WhatsApp has introduced the concept of a "username key," an optional extra layer of protection users can enable so that another person would need to know both the username and the key to make contact, as confirmed by the company's latest statement. "An extra layer of protection you can enable with your username, so that another user will have to know both your username and your username key to contact you. You can reset your key at any time to stop new inbound contact through your username," WhatsApp stated. The company will flag messages from unknown senders with details of country of origin and a first-time outreach warning once usernames become available for messaging. Well-known public-figure names and their variations would remain held for verified owners, with the company securing these high-profile usernames to prevent impersonation. Users would only need to connect their WhatsApp username to Instagram or Facebook if they wanted the same handle across platforms, and could unlink it later or opt for a WhatsApp-only username instead. Usernames could also be changed later, subject to availability, providing users with flexibility while maintaining security measures. WhatsApp said the best way to prevent someone from contacting you is to add a username key and to choose a username that is unique to WhatsApp, addressing concerns about guessable usernames.
Meta has built multiple safeguards against abuse in response to government concerns, according to the company's latest announcement. The company confirmed that the highest-profile names — including those of public figures, government entities, celebrities and verified Meta accounts — are reserved so they can only be claimed by their legitimate owners and lookalike derivatives of known names are held as well. Certain lookalike variants of known names are also reserved to prevent impersonation. "We've built layered protections to protect our users. Existing Facebook and Instagram usernames are reserved for their owners during the reservation period and for a limited time after," the company stated. The platform has implemented automated systems that detect and remove activity or ban accounts showing common impersonation and abuse patterns. For example, the company will limit how many new people any account can contact through usernames and block repeated attempts to guess someone's username key. Additionally, Meta has limited how often users can change their usernames to protect against abuse. When the feature becomes available, WhatsApp will provide users with more information about the person contacting them, including their country, whether the account is newly created, whether they are in the user's contacts, and any groups they have in common.
The update received a mixed response on social media, with some users welcoming the proposed feature as a significant privacy improvement. "The new WhatsApp Username feature is a great step toward improving privacy. Being able to connect without sharing your phone number is something many users have been waiting for. I've already reserved my username. Thank you, WhatsApp, for this thoughtful update!" said X user Sushant Kumar. However, other users expressed concerns about potential misuse and fraud risks. "This new WhatsApp usernames feature should scare anyone. On most social media apps we try to get a username that matches our real name. It's a flex if we can grab one. On WhatsApp it will be a privacy nightmare if we do that. Anyone can search for the name and directly reach our WhatsApp inbox/feed without ever needing our phone number. So best to never use our real name on that platform, ever!" said X user Kartik Dayanand. Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia flagged issues while reserving his username, noting that variations using his name along with 'AAP' seemed to have been reserved by others, raising concerns about impersonation. Paytm Founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma warned that lookalike usernames could become a major vector for impersonation and scams if not properly protected, while Mobikwik's CEO Bipin Preet Singh said the feature was "not a good idea at all" and would lead to proliferation of fraud and impersonation. Businesses say it is unlikely to significantly change how they interact with customers, as most commercial communication on WhatsApp continues to rely on verified business accounts and registered phone numbers.
