The Centre has directed Meta not to roll out WhatsApp’s proposed username feature until consultations are completed, citing concerns over impersonation, phishing and cyber fraud. The government has also sought a detailed explanation within three days, while WhatsApp defended the feature’s safeguards
Published Date – 1 July 2026, 10:37 PM
New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday issued a notice to Meta over WhatsApp’s proposed username feature, citing concerns over impersonation and online fraud, and directed the company not to roll out the feature until consultations on the issue are completed to the satisfaction of the government.
The government has also asked Meta to submit a detailed explanation, supported by relevant documents, on the proposed feature within three days.
In the notice, the Centre said the WhatsApp username feature could materially increase incidents of online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams and impersonation by enabling bad actors to contact and mislead users.
The government asked Meta to explain why action should not be initiated under the Information Technology Act and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, over a feature that could potentially increase cybercrime.
The Centre also reminded Meta that WhatsApp, as a significant social media intermediary, is required to comply with due diligence obligations under the Information Technology Act and the Rules.
WhatsApp, in a statement issued on Wednesday, defended the feature, saying it includes safeguards to prevent scams and impersonation and protect users.
India is WhatsApp’s largest market, with more than 500 million users.
According to the notice, the feature could facilitate impersonation and identity spoofing, including that of individuals, public authorities, financial institutions and government agencies, by allowing usernames that closely resemble those of genuine persons or organisations.
The notice, addressed to the Chief Compliance Officer of WhatsApp India Operations, cited provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Rules, including Section 79 relating to intermediary due diligence, Rules 3 and 4 governing intermediary responsibilities, and Sections 66C and 66D dealing with identity theft and cheating by impersonation using computer resources.
It also referred to intermediary liability under Section 79(3)(a) of the Information Technology Act for aiding, abetting or inducing unlawful acts.
The government directed Meta to furnish a detailed explanation within three days and instructed the company not to roll out the feature until consultations are completed to the satisfaction of the government.
A WhatsApp spokesperson said the username feature is not yet live and will be introduced gradually later this year.
“To protect against impersonation, we’ve held the highest-profile names, including those of public figures, government entities, celebrities and verified Meta accounts, so they can only be claimed by their legitimate owners. Lookalike versions of known names have also been reserved,” the spokesperson said.
Meta said users would still need a phone number to use WhatsApp and that multiple layers of protection had been built into the username feature.
The company said users would need to know the exact username to initiate contact. It also said limits would be placed on how many new people an account could contact, repeated attempts to guess usernames would be restricted, and systems would be used to detect and remove suspicious activity linked to impersonation and abuse.
WhatsApp said users would also be shown whether a first-time sender is using a new account, is already a contact, shares a mutual group or is messaging from another country before responding.
Earlier in the day, government sources said authorities would examine the legal framework governing the feature and whether existing laws permit restrictions if it is found to pose risks to public safety or national security.
WhatsApp plans to introduce usernames later this year, allowing users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers. The company said the feature is intended to enhance privacy, particularly in group chats and conversations with new contacts.
The platform has already started allowing users to reserve usernames.
The notice comes amid growing concerns among cybersecurity experts and startup founders that lookalike usernames could be misused unless strong verification and anti-impersonation safeguards are put in place.
Paytm founder and Chief Executive Vijay Shekhar Sharma said on X that similar-sounding usernames could become a tool for impersonation and scams.
Jasveer Singh, co-founder and Chief Executive of KnotDating, also questioned how the platform would balance user privacy with accountability.
