The story so far: On July 1, 2026, the Union government issued a notice to Meta directing it to halt the rollout of WhatsApp’s username feature, which is currently accepting reservations. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology stated that concealing phone numbers and displaying only usernames could raise risks of online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation.
What is the WhatsApp username feature? WhatsApp promotes usernames as a method to communicate without revealing phone numbers. New contacts see only the chosen username instead of a mobile number. The option is voluntary. There is no username search directory in the app. Users must know the exact username to connect. WhatsApp allows a personal identification number for added protection against unwanted contact. The feature remains unavailable and is planned for wider release in coming months with safeguards.
Why is the government concerned about the feature? MeitY noted that the feature could enable impersonation and identity spoofing of individuals, authorities, banks, and agencies through similar usernames. Some public figures reported that variations of their names have already been reserved. MeitY added that the change may increase fraud, phishing, and impersonation by allowing contact with victims. Similar notices were sent to Telegram, Signal, and Arattai.
What is WhatsApp’s response to these concerns? A spokesperson said Meta has reserved usernames of prominent figures, including officials and verified accounts, to block misuse. The app will show the sender’s country and contact status when a phone number is hidden. Officials met MeitY on July 3, and a written reply was due July 4. Users may ignore messages from unknown contacts.
Can the government dictate an app’s features? It remains unclear if authorities can block a feature on a private app. The Internet Freedom Foundation stated the notice treats a lawful feature as something requiring justification. The government cited WhatsApp’s status as a significant social media intermediary under IT rules and referenced sections on identity theft and intermediary liability. The group argued that cited provisions do not grant power to approve or withdraw product features.
