After WhatsApp, Centre sends notices to Telegram and Signal over anonymity features

MUMBAI: India’s scrutiny of privacy-focused messaging features is gathering pace. A day after asking WhatsApp to halt the rollout of its username feature, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued similar notices to Telegram and Signal, seeking details on safeguards around features that allow users to communicate without revealing their phone numbers.

According to Reuters, the government has asked both platforms to explain how they prevent impersonation, identity misuse and other forms of abuse linked to anonymous messaging features. The notices mark a broader shift in regulatory oversight, from targeting entire platforms to examining individual product features.

The move follows MeitY’s directive earlier this week asking Meta-owned WhatsApp to pause the rollout of its planned username feature in India and justify the update within three days or face possible regulatory action. Authorities have argued that allowing users to connect without sharing phone numbers could make phishing, digital arrest scams, online fraud and identity spoofing easier.

WhatsApp’s proposed feature would allow users to reserve unique usernames and eventually communicate without disclosing their mobile numbers, similar to functionality already available on Telegram and Signal. The government has expressed concern that usernames resembling public figures, financial institutions or government agencies could be exploited for impersonation.

The latest notices also come weeks after the government temporarily blocked Telegram as part of a wider review of the platform, signalling a tougher approach towards messaging services that offer enhanced privacy and anonymity.

The notices indicate that India’s regulatory focus is expanding beyond content moderation towards the design of communication tools themselves, setting the stage for a wider debate over the balance between user privacy, platform accountability and cybersecurity.