The Union government of India has issued notices to messaging platforms Telegram and Signal, asking them to explain the safeguards they have in place to prevent misuse of username-based communication features.

This move comes shortly after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology directed WhatsApp to pause the rollout of a similar username feature until further consultations are completed.

According to reports cited by multiple newspapers, the government is concerned that allowing users to communicate via usernames without necessarily revealing their phone numbers could increase the risk of impersonation, fraud, phishing, and so-called digital arrest scams.

Officials have reportedly stated that the same rules must apply uniformly across all platforms, and that similar notices would be issued to Telegram and Signal.The companies have been given a short window of around three days to respond to the government’s queries.

In Telegram’s case, authorities have also reportedly questioned whether the platform should continue offering such a username feature at all, reflecting heightened regulatory scrutiny.

The government’s concerns focus on how anonymity-enabled communication features could potentially be misused by bad actors to target users, create fake identities, or carry out financial scams.

At the same time, WhatsApp has clarified in its response that phone numbers would still remain necessary for account creation and usage, and that additional safeguards such as username keys and restrictions on claiming usernames of public figures or verified entities are being implemented.

Digital rights groups, including the Internet Freedom Foundation, have criticised the government’s action, arguing that such restrictions could amount to an overreach and may lack a clear legal basis.

They have also called for greater transparency, including publication of the notices and clarification of the legal provisions under which the government is acting.

The issue has sparked a broader debate on digital privacy, user safety, and the balance between innovation and regulation in India’s messaging ecosystem.