India halts WhatsApp username rollout over security concerns

The Indian government has halted the rollout of WhatsApp's new username feature due to security concerns. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) expressed fears that allowing users to identify each other without sharing phone numbers could facilitate fraud, specifically “digital arrest” scams where criminals impersonate authorities to extort victims.

Meta has been granted a three-day extension to respond to these concerns. The company has stated that the feature is not yet live and has promised multiple layers of defense against misuse. Meta intends to implement a gradual rollout to address regulatory requirements.

The username feature, which allows for unique identifiers preceded by an @ symbol, is designed to give both private individuals and businesses more control over their privacy. While the feature aims to enhance user experience by allowing contact without revealing phone numbers, the Indian government remains focused on the potential for increased anonymity to aid criminal activity.