Malaysia: Authorities Investigate Username Features in Messaging Apps

Malaysia's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has initiated an inquiry into the username features implemented by various messaging applications, citing potential risks of impersonation and the facilitation of cybercrime. S Krishnan from MeitY stated that this represents another dimension through which cybercrimes can be committed.

As part of this oversight, MeitY has formally requested explanations from WhatsApp regarding its username feature. Similar inquiries have reportedly been sent to Signal, Telegram, and Zoho-owned Arattai. This follows an earlier directive to WhatsApp to halt the public rollout of its username feature until government satisfaction.

While MeitY has not publicly released these notices, media reports indicate that Signal, Telegram, and Arattai are also under scrutiny. Zoho has announced that its Arattai platform will disable the username feature to comply with regulatory changes.

The government's actions have raised concerns about potential overreach and the expansion of regulatory control over digital platforms. Analysts suggest this could lead to a scenario where platforms might need governmental approval before rolling out new features, a situation compared to India's pre-liberalization 'license raj'.

The focus on usernames raises questions about the selective enforcement, as other digital identifiers like email addresses and UPI virtual payment addresses (VPAs) also carry impersonation risks but have not faced similar scrutiny.