WhatsApp launches username reservation, India urges pause over fraud

WhatsApp has begun allowing users to reserve unique usernames as a precursor to a worldwide rollout expected later in 2026. The feature, available on mobile versions of the app, lets contacts connect without sharing phone numbers and is intended to boost privacy. Usernames must be 3‑35 characters, using lowercase letters, numbers, periods or underscores, and cannot consist solely of numbers or resemble domain names. Meta has pre‑reserved handles for public figures and institutions and offers an optional four‑digit security key that new contacts must enter before messaging.

Regulators in India, where WhatsApp has more than 500 million users, have expressed strong concerns that the username system could facilitate fraud, phishing and impersonation. The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has sent a formal notice asking Meta to pause the feature until adequate safeguards are clarified. Meta has responded that early reservations help users secure preferred names before the broader launch and that protection mechanisms, including the security key, are built into the system.