The Centre will examine WhatsApp’s upcoming user ID feature following concerns that it could lead to an increase in online fraud. The government may issue a notice to Meta if required.
WhatsApp said the feature is intended to improve privacy by allowing users to connect without sharing their phone numbers. The company said users will continue to communicate while keeping their numbers hidden during first-time conversations.
However, several experts and entrepreneurs have expressed concerns that usernames may make impersonation and scams easier. They warned that fraudsters could create usernames similar to those of well-known individuals to mislead users.
“In a country such as India, this could be a disaster if the right anti-abuse systems are not set up by WhatsApp,”
The new feature will allow users to choose a unique username between three and 35 characters. According to WhatsApp, people must know the username to contact someone for the first time. Users can also create a “username key” to decide who can send them first-time messages, and this key can be changed whenever needed.
Once the feature is introduced, phone numbers will remain hidden during initial conversations.
