- By Shubham Bajpai
- Wed, 01 Jul 2026 08:56 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Centre halts WhatsApp 'usernames' feature rollout in India.
- MEITY seeks detailed explanation from Meta within three days.
- Feature rollout paused pending government consultation on matter.
The Centre on Wednesday issued a notice to Meta over the rollout of the 'usernames' feature on WhatsApp in India and directed it to hold the feature until consultation on the matter is over.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) has directed the tech major to furnish a detailed explanation on the 'usernames' feature within 3 days, according to sources cited by news agency ANI. Officials will probe whether there are legal requirements to block the feature. If WhatsApp's response is found to be unsatisfactory, the government may ban the feature.
On June 29, WhatsApp India announced bringing the usernames feature to the platform to allow users to adopt usernames to connect and chat without sharing their phone numbers.
The platform also stated that users can reserve their preferred usernames via the app's Account and Profile settings. "Starting this week, you can reserve a username to use later this year when we launch this feature," WhatsApp said in a blog post.
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The feature was initially seen as a welcome move as the messaging platform stated that the move aims to enhance user privacy, particularly in group chats or when connecting with new acquaintances, by eliminating the need to exchange phone numbers.
However, privacy and security became the core concerns which made the feature contentious. According to news agency PTI, the government wants to assess the potential risks associated with the new feature.
The report added that the Centre will not compromise on national security or public safety.
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The news agency cited sources familiar with the matter, saying that the feature may allow users to adopt usernames resembling those of bona fide agencies and other entities, potentially enabling impersonation and fraud. They added that it could have adverse implications for public safety and society.