A company spokesperson clarified that the username system is not yet live and will be introduced in a phased manner later this year.

The Indian government has granted WhatsApp a three-day extension to formally respond to a notice regarding its controversial new username feature. Initially required to reply by last Friday, the Meta owned messaging platform sought more time to address regulatory concerns. The government has directed WhatsApp to pause the rollout of this feature until a formal consultation process is successfully completed.

Last week, the Ministry of Information Technology issued a notice to Meta, expressing serious concerns that the ability for users to chat without sharing phone numbers could inadvertently facilitate a rise in cybercrimes. Officials warned that such anonymity might increase cases of online fraud, phishing, and the growing threat of digital arrests. The government specifically asked Meta to justify why legal action under the IT Act should not be initiated given these security risks.

Following a meeting between Meta officials and ministry representatives last Friday, WhatsApp assured the government that the feature will remain inactive until all concerns are resolved. A company spokesperson clarified that the username system is not yet live and will be introduced in a phased manner later this year.

Meta claims that safeguards are being developed to prevent impersonation, noting that major names linked to public figures, government entities, and verified accounts have already been protected. The company maintains that multi-layered security measures will mitigate fraud risks.

This regulatory scrutiny extends beyond WhatsApp as the IT Ministry has also issued notices to Telegram and Signal, questioning the risks associated with their existing username features.