Aditya DidwaniyaWhatsApp’s new username system lets users chat without sharing phone numbers but India’s government fears it could fuel impersonation scams and cybercrime, and may send Meta a formal notice.
WhatsApp Brings Username Feature to Over 3 Billion Users
Meta-owned WhatsApp has announced a major privacy update users will soon be able to connect using a unique username instead of a phone number. The Indian government, however, is not convinced all is well.
Sources say the Centre is actively examining this new feature over growing concerns it could spike online fraud cases in India. A formal notice to Meta WhatsApp’s parent company is on the table, if authorities find the feature poses serious risks.
What the Feature Actually Does
WhatsApp describes the username system as something “designed to protect the privacy of your phone number.” Currently, anyone with your number can message you directly whether a business or an individual. The new feature changes that entirely.
Users can choose a unique username between three and 35 characters long. Once set, a person must know your username to contact you for the first time. WhatsApp will also introduce a ‘username key’ an extra layer that controls first-time inbound messages. Users can reset this key at any time.
The platform says most users should keep their usernames unique and share them only with trusted contacts. For those who struggle to pick one, WhatsApp will offer a built-in username generator.
Why Experts and Entrepreneurs Are Worried
The announcement has triggered sharp pushback from several quarters and the comparison to Telegram keeps coming up.
KnotDating CEO Jasveer Singh put it bluntly on X: “Phone numbers created accountability. You knew who was contacting you and had a number to report to the authorities. Usernames improve privacy but they reduce accountability what scammers love.”
The point cuts deep. Telegram which also operates on usernames has repeatedly come under scrutiny for cybercrime links. One such case involved the NEET-UG question paper leak tied to groups active on the platform.
Entrepreneur and content creator Ankur Warikoo raised a loud alarm about impersonation risks. He warned that fraudsters could easily register usernames nearly identical to those of public figures think ‘wariko’, ‘awarikoo’, or ‘ankurwarikooofficial’ and use them to trick users into sending money or joining scam groups. “In a country such as India, this could be a disaster if the right anti-abuse systems are not set up by WhatsApp,” he wrote.
Warikoo knows the stakes firsthand he has already fought a legal battle against Meta over AI-generated scam advertisements that misused his likeness without permission.
Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma also hinted at trouble ahead. He pointed out that verified and unverified similar-sounding usernames would coexist on the platform a recipe for confusion and fraud.
Law Enforcement Also Has Questions
An X user raised another dimension the difficulty in tracing criminals once phone numbers exit the equation. Platforms that identify users by username rather than phone number can make it harder for law enforcement to track cybercriminals, he argued.
This concern is backed by precedent. Under India’s Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024, the Department of Telecommunications enforces strict SIM-binding mandates to combat digital fraud. A username-only system could potentially sit awkwardly with those requirements.
What WhatsApp Says It’s Doing About It
WhatsApp maintains that no public directory of usernames will exist meaning a person must know your exact username to reach you. The platform also plans to introduce an optional Username Key feature, allowing users to control who can send them messages.
WhatsApp has also said it is reserving usernames associated with celebrities, public figures, and government organisations to minimise impersonation risks. Usernames cannot begin with “www.” or end with common domain extensions like “.com” a move aimed at reducing phishing attempts.
The broader rollout is expected later this year but with India being WhatsApp’s largest market home to over 500 million users regulatory eyes will remain firmly fixed on how this plays out.
Akshay Didwaniya
Mayur Mohta