WhatsApp's new username feature raises privacy and impersonation risks in India

WhatsApp plans to introduce a username system for its roughly 300 crore (3 billion) global users, aiming to hide phone numbers in group chats and improve privacy. In India, where about 85 crore (850 million) people use the app, the change is intended to prevent exposure of numbers that can lead to unwanted calls, spam and harassment. Critics warn the feature could also facilitate impersonation and scams, as fraudsters may create look‑alike usernames of public figures, businesses or agencies. They recommend robust safeguards: verification for notable accounts, mechanisms to block similar usernames, monitoring for suspicious behavior, quick reporting tools, and the ability for law‑enforcement to trace underlying phone numbers.