WhatsApp Puts Username Feature on Hold in India After Govt. Notice
WhatsApp Puts Username Feature on Hold in India After Govt. Notice
Big news for WhatsApp users in India! The platform has paused its controversial username rollout, giving the government more time to discuss cybercrime concerns. Find out what this means for your digital safety.
Meta-owned WhatsApp has secured a three-day extension to formally respond to the Indian government regarding its contentious new "username" feature. Crucially, the popular messaging app has also given a firm assurance that it will not roll out this feature in India until all discussions with the authorities are complete.
The government's primary concern revolves around the potential for increased online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks if the username feature is implemented without proper safeguards. This feature would allow users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers, which the Centre believes could create new avenues for cybercriminals.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had issued a notice to Meta on July 1, 2026, urging them to pause the feature's rollout until consultations concluded "to the satisfaction of the Government." A team from Meta reportedly met with IT Ministry officials following the notice. WhatsApp was initially given until July 3, 2026, to submit its reply.
The government has underscored that WhatsApp, as a significant social media intermediary, is legally bound by due diligence obligations under the IT Act and its rules. It asked Meta to explain why action shouldn't be initiated over the new feature's potential to exacerbate cybercrimes. Meanwhile, WhatsApp has refuted claims that popular or well-known usernames are already being reserved, clarifying that the feature is not yet live.
This development highlights the ongoing tension between technological innovation and regulatory oversight, especially concerning user privacy and digital security in a country with a massive online population. Users will likely have to wait longer to access the username feature as these crucial talks continue.
