Centre Reviews WhatsApp, Telegram Replies on Username Messaging

• Centre reviews responses from WhatsApp and Telegram on username-based messaging.
• Government says any regulations will apply equally to all messaging platforms.
• Officials cite concerns over impersonation, phishing and digital arrest scams.
• Cybersecurity policy under preparation to tackle emerging AI-driven threats.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 13th July: The Centre is examining responses submitted by WhatsApp and Telegram to notices issued over their username-based messaging features, with the government indicating that any future regulatory framework will apply uniformly across all messaging platforms.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of a cybersecurity report, Electronics and Information Technology Secretary S. Krishnan said the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had received WhatsApp’s response over the weekend and was currently reviewing it.

“The reply was received last week. We are examining the response and action, if any, will be taken after that examination,” Krishnan said.

The ministry had earlier issued notices to WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal over concerns that username-based messaging, which allows users to communicate without revealing their phone numbers, could increase the risk of impersonation, phishing, identity theft and so-called “digital arrest” scams.

Government officials said the Centre is working towards a common regulatory framework rather than introducing separate rules for individual platforms.

“The standards and rules will be for everyone on usernames,” a senior government official said, indicating that any future regulations would apply equally across messaging services.

Responding earlier, WhatsApp said usernames are intended to strengthen user privacy rather than replace phone numbers.

The company clarified that users would still require a phone number to register and use WhatsApp, while usernames would serve as an optional privacy feature enabling communication without sharing personal mobile numbers. WhatsApp also said the feature is being rolled out gradually and will become available globally later this year.

Telegram already offers username-based messaging, while WhatsApp has not yet introduced the feature in India.

Highlighting broader cybersecurity concerns, Krishnan said rapid digitisation has increased both opportunities and vulnerabilities.

“Cybersecurity is one of the most important concerns digitisation has brought to the fore. Artificial Intelligence itself has the scope to create malicious attacks. We need to create resilient features and build domestic capacity,” he said.

He added that the government is working on a comprehensive cybersecurity policy aimed at addressing emerging threats while maintaining an appropriate regulatory balance.

Director General of CERT-In, Sanjay Bahl, said cyber attackers are increasingly using Artificial Intelligence to launch sophisticated attacks, while defenders are also deploying AI-based tools to detect and respond to evolving cyber threats.

The Centre is expected to decide its next course of action after completing its examination of the responses submitted by the messaging platforms.