iWorld
MeitY awaits Meta reply as WhatsApp username scrutiny continues
Govt yet to receive response as extended deadline ends, CSAM notice also under review
NEW DELHI: The typing bubble is on but the government’s inbox is still waiting. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is yet to receive Meta’s response to its notice over WhatsApp’s proposed username feature, even as the extended deadline for the company to reply expires on Thursday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the CII Business Summit in New Delhi, IT Secretary S Krishnan said the Centre would decide its next course of action only after examining Meta’s response, which had not reached the ministry at the time of his remarks.
“We have not received the response to the notice yet. There is still a little more time. Today is the last date in the reply stage,” Krishnan said, adding that the government is simultaneously dealing with two separate issues involving Meta WhatsApp’s proposed username feature and a separate notice related to Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
The government had sought an explanation from Meta over WhatsApp’s plan to let users connect through unique usernames instead of sharing their mobile numbers. Officials have asked the company to defer the rollout in India until consultations are completed, citing concerns that the feature could make it easier for fraudsters to carry out phishing attacks, impersonation, online scams and so-called “digital arrest” fraud.
The original response deadline expired last week, but MeitY granted an extension until 9 July after Meta representatives met ministry officials. Government sources had earlier said WhatsApp assured the Centre that it would not launch the feature in India until discussions with the government were concluded.
The notice also reportedly asked Meta to explain why action should not be initiated under the Information Technology Act and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules if the feature is found to heighten cybercrime risks. Officials have also reminded WhatsApp that it remains bound by due diligence obligations as a Significant Social Media Intermediary under India’s IT Rules.
WhatsApp, meanwhile, has maintained that the username feature is still under development and will be introduced gradually later this year. The company has said users will continue to require a phone number to create an account and that it is building safeguards such as reserving usernames linked to public figures, government entities and verified Meta accounts, restricting unsolicited messages, limiting repeated username attempts and deploying systems to detect suspicious activity.
With the extended deadline now ending, attention shifts to MeitY’s next move, which will depend on whether Meta’s explanation sufficiently addresses the government’s concerns over user safety, cyber fraud and platform accountability.
