The Indian Government has reportedly asked Meta to suspend the rollout of WhatsApp’s new username feature in the country over concerns that it could worsen online fraud, impersonation, phishing and “digital arrest” scams.
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The directive comes as India continues to grapple with rising cybercrime cases, with fraudsters increasingly targeting millions of internet users through social media platforms, messaging applications and digital payment channels.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, recently announced that it would introduce usernames to allow users connect with others without necessarily sharing their phone numbers.
The company said the feature was designed to improve privacy by giving users a unique username instead of exposing their mobile number to every contact.
However, Indian authorities have raised concerns that the same feature could be exploited by scammers to impersonate public figures, companies, government officials and trusted contacts.
India is WhatsApp’s largest market, with more than 500 million users.
In a letter to Meta, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology reportedly warned that the username feature could increase the risk of online fraud, phishing, impersonation attacks and digital arrest scams.
The government reportedly asked Meta not to roll out the feature in India until consultations on the matter are concluded.
Officials expressed concern that bad actors may claim usernames resembling those of prominent persons or institutions and then use them to message unsuspecting users while pretending to be someone else.
A senior government official was quoted as saying that the situation could pose a major challenge for users who may not be digitally literate enough to distinguish genuine accounts from impersonators.
“There is a possibility that bad actors may claim usernames and message other users while pretending to be someone they are not,” the official reportedly said.
The ministry is also said to have asked WhatsApp to explain how the feature will work and what safeguards it has put in place to prevent abuse.
Reports said the government gave Meta a short timeline to respond to the concerns raised.
WhatsApp has, however, maintained that the username feature is not yet fully live in India and that it has already built safeguards to reduce the risk of impersonation.
According to the company, high-profile names, including those of public figures, government entities, celebrities and verified Meta accounts, have been reserved so that they can only be claimed by legitimate owners.
WhatsApp also said lookalike variations of known names have been restricted to prevent impersonation.
The company further explained that the username system would be rolled out gradually and that users would still have privacy protections and controls.
The controversy highlights the growing tension between privacy-focused product changes by global technology companies and the concerns of governments seeking to curb online fraud and ensure digital accountability.
For WhatsApp, usernames could offer additional privacy by allowing people to connect without disclosing phone numbers.
But Indian authorities fear the change could also make it harder for vulnerable users to identify scammers, especially in a country where online fraud and impersonation schemes have become increasingly common.
Digital arrest scams, in which fraudsters pose as law enforcement or government officials to frighten victims into transferring money, have become a major concern in India.
Officials are worried that username-based messaging could make such scams more convincing if criminals are able to hide their phone numbers and operate under deceptive identities.
The development also comes shortly after Meta appointed Indian fintech entrepreneur Kunal Shah as the new head of WhatsApp in India.
While Meta has not abandoned the feature, the Indian Government’s intervention means the rollout in WhatsApp’s biggest market may face regulatory delay until authorities are satisfied with the platform’s safety measures.
The outcome of the consultations could determine how the username feature is eventually introduced in India and whether similar scrutiny will be extended to other messaging platforms that allow users to communicate through handles rather than phone numbers.
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