WhatsApp Announces Username Feature to Boost Privacy
WhatsApp, the Meta-owned messaging platform, has unveiled plans to introduce a username feature later this year, enabling users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers. The company says the optional feature is designed to enhance privacy, especially in group chats and when connecting with new contacts. Early reservations for usernames have already opened, according to the platform.
Why the Feature Has Sparked Controversy
The proposed feature has triggered significant worry among cybersecurity experts, startup founders, and users who fear it could lead to impersonation, spoofing, and financial fraud through lookalike usernames. Public figures, including MobiKwik CEO Bipin Preet Singh and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, have reported that close variations of their names appear to have been reserved already, fueling concerns about potential misuse once the feature becomes mainstream. Industry watchers caution that shifting trust from a visible phone number to a platform-managed identity could dilute accountability.
Government Issues Notice to Meta
On Wednesday, the Indian government issued a notice to Meta, stating that the new WhatsApp feature could “materially increase” online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks by enabling bad actors to contact victims using misleading usernames. The government has asked Meta to explain why action should not be initiated under the IT Act and related rules, demanded detailed documents within three days, and directed the company to pause the feature until all consultations are completed “to the satisfaction of the Government.”
WhatsApp's Response
A WhatsApp spokesperson maintained that the feature is not yet live and will be rolled out gradually later this year with multiple safeguards. The company asserts that usernames are optional, cannot be searched by strangers, and users can enable an additional “username key,” requiring both elements before contact can be initiated. In FAQs released on Thursday, WhatsApp reiterated that it has reserved usernames of public figures, celebrities, government entities, and Meta-verified accounts, along with lookalike derivatives, so they can only be claimed by legitimate owners. It dismissed claims that popular usernames are being reserved by others as “false.” Users who link their Instagram or Facebook accounts can opt for matching usernames to establish ownership before unlinking them later.
Safety Measures Planned
WhatsApp says it will display contextual warnings for first-time messages, such as whether the sender is a new account, shares mutual groups, or is messaging from another country. The platform also plans to limit outreach by new accounts, block repeated attempts to guess username keys, and monitor reports and blocks to detect impersonation and scam patterns.
What Happens Next
The government is awaiting Meta’s response to its notice before deciding its next course of action. It has made clear that unless the response is satisfactory and provides assurance, WhatsApp will not be allowed to proceed with the rollout. Experts believe success will depend on how effectively the platform detects impersonation, verifies identities, and protects ordinary users and small businesses, not just high-profile accounts.
The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) has expressed concern over the government’s missive, saying the notice to WhatsApp has no clear basis in law. “It is an attempt by the executive to decide what a company may build and ship, which no statute permits,” the digital rights advocacy group said. In a social media post, IFF added: “MeitY does not name any provision that lets it approve a product feature before release or order one withdrawn, because there is none, and the provisions it does cite do not supply that power.”
