WhatsApp Submits Reply on Username Notice, Govt Reviews Response, Feature Remains on Hold

Meta-owned WhatsApp has submitted its response to the Centre's notice regarding the proposed username feature , and the government is currently examining the company's explanation, according to official sources.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had issued the notice last week, expressing concerns that allowing users to communicate through usernames instead of sharing phone numbers could potentially lead to a rise in online fraud, phishing, impersonation, and digital-arrest scams . The government had also directed WhatsApp not to launch the feature in India until consultations were completed to its satisfaction.

Following the notice, WhatsApp sought additional time to prepare its response and assured the government that the feature would not be rolled out in the country while discussions were ongoing. Sources said the company's reply has now been received by the ministry and is under review.

Earlier on Thursday, IT Secretary S Krishnan , speaking on the sidelines of the CII GCC Business Summit, confirmed that WhatsApp's response was due that day. He added that replies from Telegram and Signal , which were also issued notices over their existing username-based systems, had not yet been received.

A delegation from Meta met IT ministry officials last Friday after being summoned over the matter. In its notice, the government asked the company to explain why action should not be initiated under the Information Technology Act and related rules , while reminding WhatsApp of its due-diligence obligations as a significant social media intermediary.

WhatsApp has maintained that the username feature is not yet live and will be introduced gradually later this year. The company said users will still need a phone number to create and use a WhatsApp account. It also outlined safeguards such as reserving usernames of public figures and government entities, limiting contact attempts by new accounts, detecting impersonation patterns, and providing contextual information when a user receives a first-time message through a username.

The development comes amid broader regulatory scrutiny of major digital platforms, with Meta and Telegram facing separate notices on issues ranging from harmful content to online piracy.