WhatsApp Responds to Indian Government Inquiry on Username Feature
WhatsApp, Meta's messaging platform, has submitted its response to India's government regarding a proposed username feature that would allow communication without sharing phone numbers.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has responded to a notice from the Indian government concerning its planned username feature. The feature is designed to allow users to communicate without disclosing their phone numbers.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) received WhatsApp's reply yesterday and is currently examining it. The government had previously directed Meta not to roll out the feature in India until consultations were concluded to its satisfaction. While initially given three days to respond, WhatsApp was granted an extension until July 9 after requesting more time.
The ministry has raised concerns regarding privacy, user safety, phishing, impersonation, and online fraud, seeking details on the safeguards incorporated into the feature. The Indian government has also issued similar notices to Telegram and Signal regarding their respective username-based messaging systems.
WhatsApp states that the new feature aims to enhance privacy by reducing phone number exposure in group chats and other interactions. The company has encouraged users to reserve unique '@' handles to improve security and mitigate the risk of identity theft. However, users will still require a phone number to create and operate a WhatsApp account.