WhatsApp Username Feature submits response to Centre’s notice as government reviews privacy and fraud concerns
WhatsApp Username Feature Meta-owned WhatsApp has reportedly submitted its response to the Centre’s notice regarding its proposed ‘username’ feature, and the government is currently examining the reply. The development marks the latest step in the ongoing discussions between WhatsApp and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) over user privacy and online safety.
The government had also directed the messaging platform not to launch the username feature in India until consultations on the issue were completed to its satisfaction.
Why the WhatsApp Username Feature is under scrutiny
The proposed feature would allow users to connect and communicate on WhatsApp without having to share their mobile phone numbers, offering an additional layer of privacy.
Following the notice, WhatsApp sought additional time to submit its response to the government. The company also assured the Centre that it would not roll out the feature in India until discussions with the authorities were concluded.
Sources familiar with the matter said the IT Ministry has now received WhatsApp’s response and is examining the company’s submissions.
However, there has been no official statement from WhatsApp on the response submitted to the ministry yet.
IT Ministry awaits responses from Telegram and Signal
Earlier this week, IT Secretary S. Krishnan had said that WhatsApp’s reply to the government’s notice was due on Thursday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the CII GCC Business Summit in New Delhi, Krishnan also said that similar notices had been issued to Telegram and Signal over their username features.
“We will await the formal response to the notice that we have issued, and thereafter we will take a view based on what the response is,” Krishnan said on Thursday.
On whether those platforms had responded, Krishnan said there was still some time left for them to submit their replies and that the government would examine the issue after receiving their responses.
Meta also faces questions over Instagram advertisements
Earlier, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had instructed ministry officials to summon Meta and seek an explanation regarding the alleged presence of child sexual abuse material in advertisements on Instagram.
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WhatsApp Username Feature Optional as Meta Addresses Impersonation Concerns
WhatsApp Username Reservations Begin Globally to Boost User Privacy
