WhatsApp, Telegram reply to MeitY notices on upcoming username feature: What we know

Telegram and Meta-owned WhatsApp on Thursday submitted their replies to notices from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) over concerns about their upcoming username features. Officials confirmed the responses have been received and are under examination. 

The move comes a week after the Central government issued a notice to Meta, questioning WhatsApp's proposed username feature and warning that it could heighten the risks of online fraud, phishing, digital-arrest scams, and impersonation attacks, PTI reported.

The Hindustan Times reported on Friday that the deadline for messaging platforms to submit their responses ended on Thursday. WhatsApp was granted a four-day extension after the company sought additional time following a meeting with officials on 2 July. Citing sources, the report added that Telegram also submitted its response to MeitY's notice.

Meta addresses impersonation, fraud concerns

Speaking to HT, a Meta spokesperson highlighted additional safeguards the company said it has incorporated into the feature to help prevent impersonation and fraud. They said, "We’ll ban accounts or revoke usernames when we find evidence of identity impersonation or scam."

The company added that current Facebook and Instagram usernames will remain reserved for their respective owners throughout the reservation period. It also said usernames associated with public figures, government bodies, celebrities and verified Meta accounts, including select lookalike versions, will be reserved exclusively for the legitimate account holders.

What is WhatsApp's new username feature?

In a blog post, the company said users can reserve their username, a feature that will be introduced later this year. The company noted that WhatsApp has over three billion users, with many names overlapping; hence, the platform is opening reservations early.

According to a PTI report, the proposed username feature will allow people on the messaging platform to communicate directly without sharing their phone numbers. The Centre, however, directed Meta not to launch the feature until consultations on the issue were completed "to the satisfaction of the government".

Subsequently, the platform sought more time from the government to submit its response on the "username" feature while assuring the Centre that it would not roll out the feature in New Delhi until discussions were complete.

Govt issues notice to messaging platforms

Last week, the Centre issued a notice to Meta, asking the company to explain why action should not be initiated against it under India's IT Act and rules for the messaging platform's new feature, which could increase incidents of cybercrime. MeitY also reminded Meta that WhatsApp, being designated as a significant social media intermediary, must comply with the due diligence requirements laid down under the IT Act and the relevant rules.

After a notice was issued summoning Meta officials, a team from the company met with the IT ministry last week. A WhatsApp spokesperson said that the username feature is not live yet and will be rolled out slowly later this year. The spokesperson added, “To protect against impersonation, we have held the highest-profile names -- think public figures, government entities, celebrities, verified Meta accounts -- so they can only ever be claimed by their legitimate owners, and lookalike derivatives of known names are held as well.”

The company said that users will still need a phone number to use WhatsApp, adding that it has built several layers of defence to control scams involving usernames. Meta said, "Other users need to know the exact username to message you. We will limit how many new people an account can contact, block repeated attempts to guess someone's username key, and have systems to detect and remove activity showing common impersonation and abuse patterns."

WhatsApp further said, "When the feature becomes available, and someone sends a message for the first time via your username, we will show you if they are a new account, if they are your contact, if you have groups in common, and if they are based in a different country, so you can decide whether to respond."

Following its notice to WhatsApp, MeitY also issued notices to Telegram and Signal, seeking details on their existing username feature and the measures they have put in place to mitigate the risks of fraud and impersonation.

In the last few days, both Meta and Telegram have faced regulatory scrutiny over other issues as well. While the Centre issued a stern notice to Meta over child sexual abuse material in Instagram ads on 4 July, MeitY asked Telegram to crack down on the "widespread dissemination" of pirated films, OTT content and other audiovisual material via its platform.

(with PTI inputs)