India has directed WhatsApp to suspend the rollout of its upcoming username feature, warning that it could make it easier for cybercriminals to carry out fraud, phishing and impersonation scams.
The proposed update would allow users to communicate using unique usernames instead of sharing their phone numbers and is expected to be introduced to WhatsApp’s billions of users worldwide.
In a notice issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Indian government asked WhatsApp to explain why legal action should not be taken over the feature, arguing that it could expose users to greater cybersecurity risks.
Authorities expressed concern that fraudsters could exploit usernames to impersonate individuals, government agencies, financial institutions and other trusted organisations without revealing their identities.
The ministry also instructed the company not to proceed with the rollout until consultations with the government have been completed and its concerns addressed.
Responding to the development, WhatsApp said the feature has not yet been launched and noted that it has introduced safeguards designed to reduce abuse, including reserving usernames for high-profile accounts and deploying systems to detect impersonation and scam attempts.
India, which has more than 850 million WhatsApp users, is the platform’s largest market and has increasingly tightened its oversight of major global technology companies and their products.
