The Central government is studying formal responses on the WhatsApp Telegram username feature and is now considering a broader regulatory framework that would apply uniformly across all messaging services in India. Officials say the goal is consistency, not company-specific rules.
Centre Reviews Company Responses on the WhatsApp Telegram Username Feature
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had earlier written to WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal, flagging worries that letting users message each other through usernames instead of phone numbers could open the door to impersonation, phishing and so-called “digital arrest” scams. Each platform was asked to explain the safeguards it has in place to prevent misuse.
Those replies have now landed with the ministry. MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan confirmed the responses are being examined, and said the government will only decide on next steps once the review is complete. What the companies actually said has not been made public yet, and officials have declined to offer a preview of their findings.
Why a Common Regulatory Framework Is on the Table
Officials familiar with the discussions say a shared rulebook makes more sense than blocking one app’s feature while a rival app offers something similar without restriction. That inconsistency, they argue, would be hard to justify and even harder to enforce across a fast-moving industry.
The thinking within the ministry is that any new rules should apply the same standard to every major service, regardless of whether it is WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal or a newer entrant. This would prevent companies from gaining a competitive edge simply by moving faster than regulators, and would give users a predictable baseline of protection no matter which app they choose.
Such an approach would also reduce the administrative burden on the ministry, which would otherwise need to track and respond to each platform’s product changes separately. A single framework, officials note, allows faster decision-making when new features emerge in the future.
Background: How the Scrutiny Began
The episode started when the government asked WhatsApp to hold off rolling out its planned username feature in India until concerns around cyber fraud, user safety and cooperation with law enforcement were addressed. Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, had positioned usernames as a privacy upgrade, letting people connect without sharing their phone numbers.
Because Telegram and Signal already allow username-based contact, the ministry widened its inquiry to include them as well, rather than treating WhatsApp’s proposal in isolation. That decision is part of what is now pushing officials toward a platform-neutral policy instead of case-by-case orders issued one company at a time.
Balancing Safety and Privacy
Government officials have repeatedly framed the exercise as an effort to protect users, particularly against fraud schemes that have grown more sophisticated in recent years. Scammers impersonating officials or law enforcement, for instance, have used messaging apps to pressure victims in so-called digital arrest cons, often exploiting anonymity features to appear credible.
At the same time, authorities say they are conscious of not undermining features that offer genuine privacy benefits to ordinary users. The review is meant to check whether current safeguards are strong enough, not to block privacy tools outright, and officials indicate that further consultations with stakeholders will shape the eventual policy before any common standard is finalised.
Conclusion
With responses now in hand, the ministry’s next move will shape how messaging apps operate in India going forward. A common framework, if adopted, would mark a shift from platform-specific notices to a standard rulebook covering user safety across all messaging services, one that treats WhatsApp, Telegram and every other provider by the same measure.
Also read: WhatsApp Usernames Roll Out, Letting Users Skip Sharing Phone Numbers
Follow for more updates: www.instagram.com/imnindia.news/
Leave a comment