Recently, the government issued a notice to WhatsApp, asking it to halt the rollout of the username feature. Now, the government is also monitoring Telegram and Signal, and may issue notices to both, demanding their response.

After WhatsApp, the government can now take action against Telegram and Signal as well.

WhatsApp Username Feature: After banning WhatsApp's username feature, the government may now take action against Telegram and Signal as well. The username feature is already available on both platforms. Now, the IT Ministry may send them a notice and demand answers regarding this feature. The government wants to know how the user's true identity is ensured in this feature. It also wants to know whether someone can mislead or defraud people by creating an account under a fake name or someone else's identity. It should be noted that the government had imposed a temporary ban on Telegram a few days ago after its name surfaced in the NEET paper leak incident .

Answers will be sought to these questions.

• What is the process of creating a username?
• What security measures are in place to prevent fake or similar usernames?
• How is impersonation of a government institution, celebrity, or common person prevented?
• What is the process for removing or blocking a fake username upon receiving a complaint?
• How is cooperation with law enforcement agencies carried out when needed?

WhatsApp's username feature has been banned.

WhatsApp was rolling out a username feature for user privacy, but its rollout has been halted. The government has sent a notice to Meta, asking it not to roll out the feature and seeking a response within three days. The government has taken strict action against this feature due to fears of fraud and anonymity. In response, WhatsApp stated that the feature is not being rolled out yet and that it has implemented several security measures. WhatsApp had just begun reserving usernames for this feature.

What is the government's concern about the username feature?

In a notice sent to WhatsApp, the government stated that this feature could increase cases of online fraud, phishing, digital arrests, and impersonation. The government is also concerned that this feature could be misused by people to reserve names that resemble those of individuals, government entities, financial institutions, and government agencies. This would make it difficult for users to distinguish between real and fake names. A government official stated that cybercriminals are already perpetrating scams like digital arrests through WhatsApp, and this feature could further aid them.