WhatsApp dismisses India's concerns over upcoming username feature

California (Web Desk): WhatsApp has rejected concerns raised by the Indian government over its upcoming username feature, saying the platform has already put safeguards in place to prevent fraud and impersonation.

Indian authorities had asked the Meta-owned messaging service not to roll out the feature until it explained how it would stop scammers and users from posing as public figures or other individuals.

According to the government, allowing users to communicate without revealing their phone numbers could create new opportunities for fraudsters to exploit the platform.

Responding to the concerns, a WhatsApp spokesperson said the company had addressed these issues while designing the feature.

The spokesperson said users can currently reserve their preferred usernames, but the feature is not yet available for use. It will be introduced gradually to users later this year.

WhatsApp added that usernames belonging to public figures, celebrities, verified Meta accounts, government institutions and other protected entities have been reserved to prevent impersonation and misuse.

The company announced the upcoming username feature on June 30, stating that the names of well-known personalities and senior government officials would not be available to the general public in order to reduce the risk of identity fraud.

Meta also clarified that limiting access to phone numbers means users' contact numbers will no longer be automatically shared when they join a WhatsApp group or message a person or organisation for the first time.

Once the feature is fully launched, users who choose a username will be reachable only by those who know their exact username on WhatsApp.