Meta meets IT ministry on WhatsApp username concerns, to file response in 3 days

Meta and IT Ministry Address WhatsApp Username Concerns, Deadline for Response Set

Theindiapostdaily.com – Meta has initiated discussions with the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) regarding the implementation of a new username feature on WhatsApp. The meeting, held on Friday, follows the government’s directive to temporarily pause the feature’s rollout and request additional safeguards to prevent misuse in online fraud and impersonation, as reported by Livemint. Two senior officials confirmed that MeitY has asked WhatsApp to submit a written response within three days, outlining how the platform will mitigate security risks associated with the feature.

Risks of Username-Based Identity Exploitation

The IT ministry emphasized that the introduction of usernames could exacerbate the risks of digital impersonation and phishing attacks. According to the report, MeitY is concerned that users might interact with strangers or