The Indian government is reviewing Meta's response to concerns about WhatsApp's proposed username feature, which allows users to create unique identifiers without revealing phone numbers.The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has directed Meta not to roll out the feature until consultations are complete.

Officials have raised concerns about potential fraud, phishing, and impersonation risks, as usernames could mimic government bodies, public figures, or businesses.Meta has proposed safeguards, including blocking similar names to verified accounts and limiting contact attempts per user.The feature remains on hold pending assessments of legal, privacy, and cybersecurity implications.

The ministry emphasized the need to prevent misuse, such as digital-arrest scams, while ensuring users can interact without exposing personal details.This decision reflects ongoing regulatory scrutiny of tech companies' data practices in India.