WhatsApp ordered not to rollout username feature in India
01 Jul 2026

The Indian government has asked Meta to halt the rollout of WhatsApp's new "usernames" feature, until further consultations are done, Moneycontrol has reported.

The move comes amid concerns over potential risks related to impersonation and misuse through username-based communication.

The Centre has sought a detailed explanation from Meta about this feature within three days.

Username feature yet to be launched publicly
Feature details

The usernames feature, which is yet to be launched publicly, would let WhatsApp users create unique usernames and connect with others without sharing their phone numbers.

Earlier, WhatsApp had said that users would soon be able to reserve their usernames ahead of a wider rollout.

However, this process could be delayed due to the government's strict measures.

Government evaluating potential risks and implications
Safety worries

The government is concerned about the potential risks of impersonation and misuse through username-based communication.

It is evaluating the feature's implications for user identification, privacy, and platform safety.

Officials are looking into possible security risks associated with this new way of communication before deciding on its launch in India.

Experts warn of identity impersonation, verification challenges
Expert opinions

While usernames could improve user privacy by enabling connections without sharing phone numbers, experts warn that they could also introduce new security risks.

These include identity impersonation and verification challenges.

Similar-looking usernames could be exploited by scammers to impersonate brands, banks, government agencies, and public figures.