The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) received a response from WhatsApp regarding the platform’s upcoming username feature on Thursday, according to an official who declined to share specific details.
The deadline for submitting the response concluded on Thursday. The ministry had granted WhatsApp a four-day extension after the company requested additional time following a meeting with officials on July 2. Sources familiar with the matter noted that Telegram also submitted its response to MeitY’s notice on Thursday, while Signal did not respond to enquiries.
MeitY issued notices to WhatsApp on July 1, and to Telegram and Signal on July 3, amid concerns that username-based messaging could heighten the risks of impersonation, identity theft, phishing, and digital fraud. The platforms were asked to clarify the specific safeguards integrated into their username features.
In response to enquiries, a Meta spokesperson outlined additional safeguards designed to tackle impersonation and fraud. They stated that the company will ban accounts or revoke usernames if they find evidence of identity impersonation or scams. Meta added that existing Facebook and Instagram usernames will be reserved for their owners during the initial reservation period. Furthermore, usernames belonging to public figures, government entities, celebrities, and verified Meta accounts, alongside potential lookalike variations, will be restricted exclusively to their legitimate owners.
Also read: WhatsApp rolls out usernames: Reserve yours now
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