India Asks Meta to Pause WhatsApp Username Rollout

India's central government has requested Meta to pause the rollout of WhatsApp's new username feature in the country, according to reports. The government has also demanded a detailed explanation from Meta within three days.

Concerns have been raised by authorities regarding the feature's potential for misuse in identity theft and fraud. Additionally, possible implications for data sharing with other Meta applications, such as Facebook and Instagram, are being examined.

The new feature would allow users to connect using usernames instead of sharing phone numbers. This move brings WhatsApp closer to systems used by competitors like Telegram and Signal, while reducing the exposure of personal phone numbers.

A WhatsApp spokesperson stated that the username reservation feature is not yet live and will be rolled out gradually this year. The company has also put username reservations for public figures, government entities, and verified Meta accounts on hold to prevent impersonation.

India is a critical market for Meta, being WhatsApp's largest single-country market globally with over 500 million users. India's actions reflect an increasing demand for accountability from social media platforms regarding data governance and traceability.