There has been a lot of uproar in India about the upcoming ‘username’ feature of WhatsApp. WhatsApp is preparing to introduce a feature that will allow users to connect with others using only their username without sharing their mobile number. The company claims that this feature will increase the privacy of users. However, the Indian government has raised serious concerns about the security and potential for cyber fraud associated with this feature. Meanwhile, the central government has directed to stop the roll-out of this feature in India and issued a ‘show cause notice’ to Meta.
The government has sought a reply from the company within three days, in which it will have to provide information about all the security measures and necessary documents related to the feature. The government says that until all aspects are fully reviewed and satisfactory answers are received regarding security, this feature should not be implemented in India.
What is the username feature of WhatsApp?
Under this new feature, users will be able to choose a unique username for their account. As a result, for the first time, a username can be used instead of a mobile number to contact someone. This means that even if the other person does not have your number saved, they can still chat or call you using your username, keeping your mobile number private. The company says that this feature will be completely optional; Users can use it if they want or not. Also, to contact a specific person, it will be necessary to know their specific username.
What are the government’s concerns regarding the new feature?
The Central Government believes that with the introduction of this feature, cyber criminals can easily cheat people by creating usernames like celebrities, government institutions, banks or other organizations. It is feared that this may increase cyber crimes like online fraud, phishing, ‘digital arrest’ and identity theft. According to government officials, the Home Ministry has also expressed concern that a large number of users – who are not very technology savvy – would not be able to differentiate between usernames and could easily fall prey to such scams. The government is also investigating whether the feature violates the provisions of the existing IT Act and IT Rules 2021. If security measures are found inadequate, a complete halt to its roll-out may be considered.
Is it a crime to hide a phone number?
Simply hiding a phone number or using a username to increase privacy is not a crime. The government doesn’t have a problem with the fact that users can hide their numbers, but is concerned about the risk of misuse of this feature to create fake identities and defraud people. In other words, the main issue is not privacy, but the threat of impersonation and cyber fraud.
What did Meta say in his defense?
Meta has said that this feature is not live yet and it will be gradually rolled out later this year. According to the company, even after creating a username, a mobile number will be required to use WhatsApp. The company claims that many security measures have already been taken to prevent copying. Certain usernames associated with government organizations, celebrities, and meta-verified accounts have been protected so that others cannot use them. Apart from this, many similar usernames have also been reserved.