Government to Review WhatsApp Username Feature Over Impersonation Risks

WhatsApp’s upcoming username feature is under the review of the Indian government, which fears that the privacy-focused update could raise the risk of impersonation and identity fraud before it is rolled out widely in the country.

The scrutiny comes days after the Meta-owned messaging platform announced it would let users reserve usernames and connect with others without sharing their phone numbers, one of the biggest changes to WhatsApp’s identity system.

According to official sources, the authorities were assessing the implications of the feature and whether any more protections or legal steps might be needed before it was launched in India.

The main worry is that fraudsters could create user names similar to public figures, companies, financial institutions or government agencies, making it harder for users to tell the difference between legitimate accounts and impersonators.

Also Read: Meta Adds AI Smart Glasses-Exclusive Instagram Stories Features

Privacy Update:

WhatsApp said on June 29 that it would soon let users around the world start reserving usernames in anticipation of a broader rollout later this year. The feature lets users create a unique username between three and 35 characters long, using letters, numbers, periods and underscores.

Once turned on, instead of sharing their phone number, users can share their username when connecting with new contacts to help keep their personal mobile number private.

WhatsApp is billing the feature as a privacy enhancement, not a social networking tool. The company said the usernames won’t work like public social media handles, as there won’t be a searchable directory or public database. The user will need to know the exact username of a person to start a chat.

However, government officials are evaluating whether the anonymity offered by usernames could create new avenues for cyber fraud and online impersonation.

Also Read: Telegram Restores Message Editing Feature in India After NEET Restriction Ends

Fraud Safeguards:

According to reports, authorities are reviewing existing legal frameworks to determine whether additional safeguards or regulatory provisions may be needed if current laws are found insufficient to address potential misuse.

The proposed feature has also attracted concerns from industry observers. Entrepreneur Ankur Warikoo has cautioned that scammers could exploit lookalike usernames to impersonate professionals, creators and brands, while Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma has warned that username-based identities could worsen impersonation issues already prevalent across digital platforms.

In response to these concerns, WhatsApp said it is building multiple safeguards into the feature. The company plans to reserve usernames associated with celebrities, government bodies and verified Meta accounts to prevent unauthorised use.

It also said abuse-detection systems will monitor fraudulent activity and that action will be taken against accounts involved in impersonation or scams.

Government officials, however, have indicated that while they recognise the privacy benefits of usernames, messaging platforms will ultimately be judged by how effectively they prevent misuse once the feature is deployed.