Govt issues notice to WhatsApp over username feature
The Indian government has issued a notice to WhatsApp requesting a temporary hold on its new username feature. Officials expressed concerns regarding potential spam and impersonation risks associated with the feature, which allows users to chat without sharing phone numbers.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing tension between global tech platforms and national governments regarding user privacy, security, and regulatory oversight in digital communication.
WhatsApp’s new username feature — which will allow users to interact without exposing their phone numbers — is drawing skepticism from the Union government, with a senior official saying on Wednesday (July 1, 2026) that the government is worried about the potential for spam and impersonation. The government has sent a notice to WhatsApp, asking it to put the feature on hold for the time being.
The article presents both the government's regulatory concerns and Meta's security justifications in a balanced manner.
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