X Numbers lacks scrutiny seen with WhatsApp usernames

The X platform, formerly Twitter, launched a new feature called X Numbers on September 22. This private eight-digit code allows users to message and call via XChat without sharing their phone number, even with users they do not follow.

A similar feature on WhatsApp, known as usernames, faced swift intervention from Indian authorities. In July, India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) directed WhatsApp to halt the rollout of usernames in India, citing concerns about increased online fraud, phishing, and impersonation. To date, no public reports indicate similar regulatory action against X.

X Numbers allows users to receive messages and calls, even from private accounts, with messages directly entering the main inbox rather than message requests. Users can share their numbers with trusted contacts, and the feature can be refreshed or disabled. WhatsApp's usernames raised concerns about their potential to mimic existing individuals or institutions, enabling scams. Furthermore, WhatsApp's requirement for a phone number linked to an account allows for traceability, unlike X, where users can also register with email.

While X has previously allowed strangers to message closed accounts, X Numbers now extends this functionality to all users. Compared to WhatsApp's usernames, X Numbers are numeric and cannot mimic names or recognizable handles. The ministry had previously intervened with similar features on Telegram and Signal.

According to the publication MediaNama, the reason for X's lesser regulatory scrutiny may be its user base in India compared to WhatsApp, which has over 500 million users. Additionally, X Numbers do not include a username, making them less susceptible to impersonation compared to WhatsApp usernames.