MeitY weighs common messaging rules amid Whatsapp username concerns

MUMBAI: One username, many questions. As the debate over Whatsapp’s proposed username feature gathers pace, the Centre is now looking beyond a single platform, exploring a common rulebook that could reshape how messaging apps operate in India.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is working on a uniform regulatory framework for messaging platforms while maintaining its opposition to Whatsapp’s proposed username feature, citing concerns over impersonation, digital arrest scams and online fraud.

Government officials reportedly believe allowing users to connect through usernames instead of mobile numbers could make it easier for fraudsters to conceal their identities and complicate investigations by law enforcement agencies.

The report, citing a government official familiar with the matter, said MeitY is keen to ensure that similar features are governed by the same rules across all messaging platforms rather than targeting a single service.

“It cannot be that we stop one platform from rolling out a feature while allowing others to continue offering the same thing. The rules have to be uniform for everyone,” the official told the publication, adding that consultations with messaging platforms will take place before any final decision is made.

The development follows submissions by Whatsapp and Telegram, both of which have responded to notices issued by the ministry outlining the safeguards built into their username-based systems. According to the report, the government is currently examining both responses, although officials have not disclosed further details.

Signal, which received a similar notice alongside Telegram on July 3, is yet to submit its response.

The proposed changes have already prompted action from some industry players. On 2 July, Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu announced on X that the company’s messaging platform, Arattai, would disable its username-based account feature to align with the proposed regulatory direction.

At present, Whatsapp, Telegram, Signal and Arattai operate as intermediaries under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. While these regulations require platforms to exercise due diligence, assist law enforcement and comply with lawful government directions, they do not prescribe uniform rules governing messaging features such as usernames.

MeitY’s evolving approach has also drawn criticism from digital rights advocates and legal experts, some of whom have questioned whether the existing legal framework grants the ministry the authority to regulate the design and functionality of messaging platforms.

If the proposal moves forward, it could mark one of the most significant shifts in India’s regulation of messaging services, setting common standards for platform features while reigniting the broader debate over privacy, user safety and the balance between innovation and regulatory oversight.