Directs WhatsApp not to launch its new 'Username' feature
Seeks a reply within 3 days
(‘Username’ means the name used by a user.)
New Delhi – The Union Government has issued a notice to Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, directing it not to launch WhatsApp’s new ‘Username’ feature in India for the time being. The Government has given the company 3 days to provide complete details about the feature and explain why action should not be taken against it.
WhatsApp has announced that it is rolling out a new feature across India and globally under which users will be able to communicate with one another using only their usernames without sharing their mobile numbers. As a result, a user’s mobile number will not be visible to any new contact.
Union Government fears an increase in cybercrime
Government officials have said that hiding mobile numbers could lead to an increase in online crimes such as cyber fraud and the creation of fake identities to deceive people. Anyone could create a username resembling that of a Government department, a bank or a well-known personality and mislead people.
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