India's IT Ministry has issued notices to Telegram and Signal, following a similar action against Meta's WhatsApp, concerning a new username feature that allows users to hide their phone numbers. While WhatsApp's feature is novel, Telegram and Signal already offer similar username functionalities, prompting the ministry to question these platforms on their mechanisms to prevent fraud and impersonation. The government previously raised alarms about WhatsApp's impending username feature, citing risks of impersonation, fraud, and digital arrest scams, and directed Meta to pause the rollout pending consultations, emphasizing WhatsApp's due diligence obligations under the IT Act. WhatsApp defended its feature, asserting built-in safeguards against scams and impersonations, including holding high-profile names for legitimate owners and limiting new contacts, while reiterating that a phone number remains necessary for app usage.

India's IT Ministry has issued notices to Telegram and Signal, following a similar action against Meta's WhatsApp, concerning a new username feature that allows users to hide their phone numbers. While WhatsApp's feature is novel, Telegram and Signal already offer similar username functionalities, prompting the ministry to question these platforms on their mechanisms to prevent fraud and impersonation. The government previously raised alarms about WhatsApp's impending username feature, citing risks of impersonation, fraud, and digital arrest scams, and directed Meta to pause the rollout pending consultations, emphasizing WhatsApp's due diligence obligations under the IT Act. WhatsApp defended its feature, asserting built-in safeguards against scams and impersonations, including holding high-profile names for legitimate owners and limiting new contacts, while reiterating that a phone number remains necessary for app usage.

India's IT Ministry has issued notices to Telegram and Signal, following a similar action against Meta's WhatsApp, concerning a new username feature that allows users to hide their phone numbers. While WhatsApp's feature is novel, Telegram and Signal already offer similar username functionalities, prompting the ministry to question these platforms on their mechanisms to prevent fraud and impersonation. The government previously raised alarms about WhatsApp's impending username feature, citing risks of impersonation, fraud, and digital arrest scams, and directed Meta to pause the rollout pending consultations, emphasizing WhatsApp's due diligence obligations under the IT Act. WhatsApp defended its feature, asserting built-in safeguards against scams and impersonations, including holding high-profile names for legitimate owners and limiting new contacts, while reiterating that a phone number remains necessary for app usage.

A day after sending notice to Meta over new username feature in WhatsApp, social media platforms Telegram and Signal have also come under government scanner. The IT Ministry has sent a notice to both the companies, according to sources.

Earlier, WhatsApp announced that it would gradually allow user to select a username and hide their phone numbers when contacting another user for the first time. Other users can call the person using the optional unique identifier while keeping their phone number private.

Unlike WhatsApp, the username feature is not new in Telegram and Signal. The IT ministry asked both the companies how they are addressing the concerns regarding fraud and impersonation.

The ministry's notice to Meta raised concerns over possibility of impersonation attacks, online fraud, phishing and digital arrest scams.

The Centre also directed Meta to pause the new WhatsApp feature until the government is satisfied with the consultations. The government pointed out that the proposed feature will allow "bad actors" to solicit and message victims.

The IT ministry pointed out that WhatsApp was bound by due diligence obligations under the IT Act and rules and asked Meta why the government should not take action under the IT Act.

In its statement, WhatsApp defended its proposed feature, claiming that it has built-in safeguards to prevent scams and impersonations and to protect users.

"To protect against impersonation, we’ve held the highest-profile names — think public figures, government entities, celebrities, verified Meta accounts — so they can only ever be claimed by their legitimate owners and lookalike derivatives of known names are held as well," the statement by WhatsApp read.

Meta pointed out that WhatsApp users still require a phone number to use the app. "Other users need to know the exact username to message you, we will limit how many new people an account can contact, block repeated attempts to guess someone's username key, and have systems to detect and remove activity showing common impersonation and abuse patterns," a WhatsApp spokesperson said.

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