India Halts WhatsApp Profile Name Rollout Over Scam Concerns

WhatsApp is preparing to introduce usernames or profile names that let users contact each other without revealing phone numbers. The feature, slated for a gradual launch later in 2026, would require an exact match of the chosen name and include safeguards such as reserved names for public figures, limits on new contacts, automated fraud detection and context information on first messages.

India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) asked Meta to suspend the rollout, warning that the anonymity could aid fraudsters and enable large‑scale impersonation. With over 500 million Indian users, the government demanded detailed protection mechanisms within three days before any deployment proceeds. WhatsApp has outlined its safeguards, but Indian authorities have asked for a pause while consultations continue.

Meta says the usernames will remain optional, will not be searchable in a public directory, and will still require a phone number to create an account. The dispute highlights the tension between enhancing user privacy and preventing online scams in a market critical to the company.