The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has received responses from WhatsApp and Telegram regarding concerns over their username features potentially increasing risks of impersonation, identity theft, and digital fraud.

MeitY issued notices to WhatsApp on July 1 and to Telegram and Signal on July 3, urging the platforms to explain safeguards for their username systems.WhatsApp, after a four-day extension, submitted its response, while Telegram also provided its reply.Signal did not respond to queries.Meta representatives highlighted additional safeguards, including banning accounts or revoking usernames if impersonation or scams are detected.

They also mentioned reserving existing Facebook and Instagram usernames for their owners and restricting public figures' usernames to legitimate owners.The controversy centers on balancing user privacy with security, as username-based messaging could enable malicious activities.

The responses reflect ongoing regulatory scrutiny of tech companies' practices in India, emphasizing the need for accountability in digital identity management.