India has asked WhatsApp to pause the rollout of a new feature that would let users chat using unique usernames, saying it could increase online fraud and phishing scams
The feature – which will let people chat without revealing their phone numbers – is expected to be rolled out to WhatsApp’s three billion global users over the next few months.
In a notice, the government asked WhatsApp to explain why action shouldn’t be taken against it under Indian law “for launching a feature that may increase cybercrimes”.
In a statement, WhatsApp said that the feature is not yet live and that it has built in safeguards, including reserving high-profile usernames and ways to detect impersonation and scams.
With more than 850 million users, India is the biggest market for WhatsApp, owned by Mark Zuckerberg-led Meta.
The move is the latest in a series of steps by Indian authorities to scrutinise how global technology companies design and operate their products in the country.
The notice, sent on Wednesday by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, said it had taken note of WhatsApp’s announcement this week allowing users to reserve unique usernames and, once fully introduced, contact other users by exchanging usernames instead of sharing their phone numbers.
The ministry said it believed the feature “may materially increase the incidence of online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams and impersonation attacks” by allowing criminals to contact potential victims without disclosing their phone numbers.
It also warned that the feature could “facilitate impersonation and identity spoofing”, including of individuals, government authorities, financial institutions and public agencies, by permitting usernames that closely resemble genuine ones.
The notice – a copy of which the BBC has seen – also asked the company “not to roll out this feature until the consultation on this point is achieved to the satisfaction of the government”.
The notice cites provisions of India’s Information Technology Act and the country’s technology rules governing intermediary due diligence, identity theft and impersonation offences.
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