Government takes a tough stand! WhatsApp and Telegram's 'username' feature could face legal scrutiny
Sources say the government is examining potential provisions and legal implications for banning the username feature on WhatsApp and Telegram. This follows their responses to notices regarding the new username feature. Experts have raised concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse.
RJ Kesari News Desk: The government is concerned that the username feature, if implemented, could lead to an increase in cybercrime. According to sources, after responding to the central government's notice regarding the username feature, the government is now examining the legal implications and potential provisions for imposing restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram. A formal government notification is expected.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) sent a notice to MeitY seeking details about the proposed username feature in WhatsApp .
The government asked the company to pause the rollout of the feature in India until discussions are complete, citing privacy and security concerns. Following MeitY's scrutiny of the username feature, the Center also issued a notice to Telegram.
According to the Economic Times, sources said that in early July, representatives from Meta met with MeitY officials to discuss the government's concerns about the feature. During the meeting, ministry officials raised concerns about privacy, security, and the potential for misuse.
The proposed username feature has raised concerns among internet users and cybersecurity experts, who fear it could allow cybercriminals to create and impersonate usernames resembling individuals, organizations, or government officials, increasing the risk of fraud.
What does Meta say?
According to Meta, a username is an optional and unique identifier that users can choose for their WhatsApp account. Starting with the @ symbol, it will allow users to message or call without sharing their phone number.
The company said that a username is different from a display name, which appears on a user profile, and is not required to be unique. However, a username is unique to each account.
Meta also said that users who don't have a person's phone number will see the user's name by default during direct messages, calls, and group chats. It added that some usernames will be reserved for businesses, governments, and celebrities, and others cannot claim them.