The Centre has received WhatsApp’s reply to the notice on ‘username’ feature and is reportedly examining it
The development follows MeitY’s notice to Meta last week seeking a detailed explanation of the proposed feature, which would allow users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers
Last week, Meta met MeitY officials, who raised concerns over privacy, user safety, phishing, impersonation and online fraud, and sought details on the feature’s safeguards
Update | July 11, 02:30 IST
After WhatsApp, Telegram has also reportedly submitted its reply to the IT ministry over its username feature. Sources told news agency PTI that submissions of both WhatsApp and Telegram are currently being examined by the government.
Original | July 10, 1:13 pm IST
Days after the Centre issued a notice to Meta-owned WhatsApp over its proposed username feature, the messaging platform has submitted its response.
According to a PTI report, WhatsApp’s reply was received yesterday night and is under examination by the MeitY. There is no official word yet from the company on the submission.
The development follows MeitY’s notice to Meta last week seeking a detailed explanation of the proposed feature, which would allow users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers.
The central government also directed the tech giant not to roll out the feature in India until consultations are completed to its satisfaction.
Originally, the Centre had given WhatsApp three days to respond. However, after the company sought additional time, the deadline was extended to July 9, with WhatsApp assuring the government that it would not launch the feature in India until discussions were concluded.
Last week, Meta representatives met MeitY officials, where the ministry flagged concerns around privacy, user safety, phishing, impersonation, online fraud and digital arrest scams, and sought details on the safeguards built into the feature.
Speaking on the sidelines of the CII GCC Business Summit yesterday, IT secretary S Krishnan said WhatsApp’s response was due.
The scrutiny also widened beyond WhatsApp, with MeitY issuing similar notices to Telegram and Signal over their username-based messaging systems.
Meanwhile, Krishnan also said that Meity is ready to examine if Meta’s Muse Image complies with India’s legal framework if it receives a complaint.
Muse Image is Meta’s AI-powered image generation and editing feature that lets users create, modify and transform images using text prompts.
On notices sent to Telegram and Signal over their username features, he said the government is still awaiting their replies and would examine the issue once they were received.
What’s The Centre’s Objection?
In its notice, the government asked Meta to explain why action should not be initiated under the Information Technology Act and the IT Rules over WhatsApp’s proposed feature.
According to the ministry, allowing users to communicate through usernames instead of visible phone numbers could make it easier for cybercriminals to contact victims anonymously. They fear this will increase the risk of phishing, impersonation, financial fraud and digital arrest scams.
The government also reminded Meta that WhatsApp, as a Significant Social Media Intermediary (SSMI), is required to comply with due diligence obligations under the IT Act and related rules.
What Is WhatsApp’s Username Feature?
On June 29, Meta announced the phased global rollout of WhatsApp usernames, allowing users to reserve a unique handle beginning with the ‘@’ symbol and communicate without sharing their phone numbers.
The company described it as WhatsApp’s biggest identity overhaul since launch, saying the feature would reduce phone number harvesting from group chats, limit SIM swap attacks and give users greater control over who can contact them. It added the feature will be rolled out gradually later this year.
The company said it has reserved usernames for public figures, government entities, celebrities and verified Meta accounts so they can only be claimed by legitimate owners, while also blocking lookalike variations to reduce impersonation risks.
It clarified that users will still need a phone number to create and use a WhatsApp account.
Meta maintains that usernames are intended to strengthen privacy by reducing the exposure of users’ phone numbers, which are increasingly shared across group chats, communities and business interactions.
The move comes as India grapples with rising cybercrime, with losses touching ₹22,495 Cr in 2025, prompting a wider debate over whether username-based identities improve privacy or make online fraud harder to trace.
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