WhatsApp Username Feature: Until now, WhatsApp's entire system has relied on mobile numbers. To send a message, it's essential to have their number. However, with the new feature, users will be able to choose a unique username.

WhatsApp username feature

WhatsApp Username Feature: Your mobile number is your most important identity on WhatsApp today. If someone new wants to talk to you, they'll need your number. But this entire system is about to change. Soon, you'll be able to connect with people on WhatsApp simply through your username. This means you can start a conversation without revealing your mobile number.

This feature sounds great. After all, who doesn't want their personal mobile number to be kept out of reach? However, this very feature has raised concerns for the Indian government. The government fears that this feature could become a new weapon for cyber criminals. This is why the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has sent a notice to Meta, demanding a response within three days and asking it not to launch this feature in India for now. The question now is: is WhatsApp improving people's privacy or is it inadvertently opening a new avenue for fake identities and online fraud?

First understand... what is the Username feature?

Until now, WhatsApp's entire system has relied on mobile numbers. To send a message, it's necessary to have their number. However, the new feature will allow users to choose a unique username. The other person will then be able to initiate a conversation using their username without seeing their number. Meta says this is aimed at increasing privacy, especially for those who run businesses, buy and sell goods online, are part of a community, or communicate with people they don't want to share their personal mobile number with. However, it's important to clarify that the announcement has only been made for reserving a username. The ability to chat using a username hasn't gone live yet. According to Meta, it will be rolled out in a phased manner this year.

What is the government worried about?

This is where the whole story begins. The government's biggest concern is just one word: 'Impersonation,' meaning posing as another person, bank, government institution, or company. MeitY fears that if people start trusting people based solely on their username instead of their mobile number, it could become easier for cyber criminals to defraud them. The government's notice clearly states that this feature could increase the incidence of online fraud, phishing, digital arrests, impersonation, and fake accounts. Let's understand this with a simple example...

Why is this fear greater in India?

India already faces a significant cyber fraud challenge. These include fake customer service, digital arrests, fraudulent offers in the name of investments, KYC updates, electricity bills, and courier services. In all these cases, fraudsters first try to gain trust. If they find a username that resembles that of a bank, government department, or official, it can be even easier to mislead people.

Government data also shows that cyber fraud complaints have risen sharply in the past few years, with frauds totaling thousands of crores of rupees. Therefore, the government is viewing this feature not just as a technological advancement but also from a law and order and cybersecurity perspective.

What did the government say in the notice?

In its notice to Meta, MeitY has raised several important questions. The government asks, "How will fake identities be prevented if the mobile number is hidden?" "How will it be prevented if someone adopts a username that resembles a government department, bank, or celebrity?" "How will law enforcement agencies reach the real person if necessary?"

Does this feature comply with the IT Act 2000 and IT Rules 2021?

The notice asks Meta to respond within three days. It also states that the feature should not be rolled out in India until the government is satisfied with the issue. But has the government completely banned the feature? No. This is crucial to understand. The government has not imposed a permanent ban on WhatsApp's Username feature. Currently, the government wants to review the security aspects. This means the matter is currently in the discussion and investigation stage.

What is WhatsApp saying?

Meta told ABP News that the username feature hasn't gone live yet. Currently, users are only given the option to reserve their preferred username. The chatting feature will be rolled out in phases later. Meta claims to have implemented several security measures from the outset to prevent impersonation. According to the company, the names of public figures, government institutions, celebrities, and verified Meta accounts have already been protected. Several lookalike usernames will also be reserved to prevent misuse.

WhatsApp has also clarified that mobile numbers are not completely disappearing. The number will remain necessary to use WhatsApp. The only difference is that your number won't be visible to every new user. The company says that in order to send you a message, someone must know your exact username.

The system will block repeated attempts to guess usernames. There will also be limits on the number of people new accounts can contact. Automated systems have been put in place to identify and remove fake identities and patterns of abuse. When someone messages you using a username for the first time, WhatsApp will also indicate whether they are new, whether they are in your contacts, whether they have any shared groups, and which country they are messaging from, allowing users to decide whether to respond.

Will WhatsApp's security system alone be enough?

This is the most important question in this entire controversy. Cyber ​​experts agree that no technical security system is 100% secure. Every new feature brings with it new risks. Therefore, the real challenge is not introducing the feature itself, but preventing its misuse. If Meta's security measures prove effective, the Username feature could enhance people's privacy. However, if it falls short of even slightly in preventing fake identities, this same feature could become a new weapon for cyber criminals.

Understand the other side as well.

Some digital rights organizations believe that blocking a feature simply because it could be misused is not the right approach. They argue that real action should be taken against the perpetrators, not the new technology. Meanwhile, the government argues that, given the safety of millions of Indians, it's important to first understand the risks. All eyes will now be on Meta's response, as it will determine in the coming days how and under what security conditions WhatsApp's username feature will be launched in India.