India scrutinizes WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal over new username feature

The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued notices to Telegram and Signal, seeking explanations for their username features, and to Meta’s WhatsApp, directing the company to pause its planned rollout until government consultations are completed. The ministry warned that usernames could increase fraud, phishing, digital scams and impersonation by making it easier for malicious actors to contact victims. India, home to more than 500 million WhatsApp users, asked Telegram to justify why its usernames should remain allowed and reminded WhatsApp of its due‑diligence obligations under the Information Technology Act. Zoho‑backed Indian messaging app Arattai has already disabled its own username feature to comply with the evolving regulatory stance.

Separately, WhatsApp has opened an early reservation system for its upcoming username feature, allowing users to secure a unique handle before the broader launch later in the year. The company says the feature will let users chat without sharing phone numbers, with optional keys to control who can contact them, and includes safeguards against scams and impersonation.