India Tells WhatsApp to Pause New Username Feature

India has ordered WhatsApp to halt the rollout of its new usernames feature and explain how it will prevent misuse, escalating government scrutiny of messaging apps that began with a Telegram ban last month.

In a July 1 letter, India's IT ministry gave WhatsApp three days to respond and barred the feature's launch until consultations are complete. The feature lets users message each other using a chosen username instead of a phone number.

The government warned the change could increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams and impersonation by letting bad actors contact victims without revealing their identity. It also flagged the risk of fraudsters creating usernames that mimic banks, government agencies or public figures.

WhatsApp said the feature is not yet live and will roll out gradually later this year. A phone number will still be required to use the app, and users can only be contacted by someone who knows their exact username. The company said it has added safeguards, including limits on new contacts per account and blocks on repeated username-guessing attempts.

India is WhatsApp's largest market, with over 500 million users. Government data shows cybercrime cases more than doubled to nearly 2.3 million in 2024. Digital rights groups Internet Freedom Foundation said the order lacks clear legal basis arguing no law allows the government to approve features before launch.

The move follows India's temporary ban on Telegram over exam-related fraud reflecting a broader push to regulate anonymity on messaging platforms.