The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is set to hold consultations with Meta-owned WhatsApp over the upcoming username feature, amid concerns reported by law enforcement agencies over the risks of impersonation and potential fraudulent misuse, people familiar with the matter said.
Officials from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Delhi Police raised concerns over anonymity and delayed response timelines in data requests submitted to the platform by law enforcement agencies (LEAs).
A new WhatsApp feature could allow a perpetrator to create a fake impersonation profile to make fraudulent calls, a communications department official said.
“The biggest problem is that it will become difficult for Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to determine whether the perpetrator is in India or abroad. Tomorrow, anyone can create a WhatsApp account using +1 (US) number, use NIA chief’s photo, adopt a similar username and make fraudulent calls. Earlier, if the number starts with +91, we can at least initiate action. If the number is not available, there is almost no way to solve the problem,” the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) official said on condition of anonymity.
Read also: How does the new username feature work in WhatsApp? Here’s how to chat without a phone number
The official also noted WhatsApp’s response time to law enforcement requests, saying the platform can take anywhere from five days to an indefinite period to respond. “WhatsApp does not provide data immediately, which makes investigations more complex,” the official said.
A senior official in Delhi Police’s cybercrime division echoed these concerns, saying WhatsApp’s move will make it difficult for investigators to identify suspects as users may remain anonymous. The official added that WhatsApp appears to be following the approach taken by Telegram and Signal, both of which allow users to interact through usernames rather than revealing their phone numbers.
In addition, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is expected to soon contact Meta and WhatsApp for consultation to discuss concerns surrounding the rollout of usernames.
The government is considering WhatsApp’s planned username feature amid concerns it could be abused for impersonation and fraud, people familiar with the matter said. The feature will be evaluated for potential risks, officials said, adding that a recent announcement by the Meta-owned platform has raised concerns among security agencies.
They said the feature may allow users to adopt usernames that resemble the names of bona fide agencies and other entities, potentially enabling impersonation and fraud, which could have negative impacts on public safety and the community. The sources added that the government will not compromise on national security or public safety.
New meta feature
The MetaWhatsApp-owned messaging platform has announced the introduction of usernames, a feature that will allow users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers. The company has opened early reservations for the usernames, which will be officially released later this year.
“Starting this week, you can reserve a username to use later this year when we launch this feature,” WhatsApp said in a blog post.
According to the messaging platform, this step aims to enhance user privacy, especially in group conversations or when communicating with new acquaintances, by eliminating the need to exchange phone numbers.
