India orders WhatsApp to pause username rollout amid fraud fears

Details: Manny Pham; Category: Devices & Platforms; 03 July 2026; 428 views

Meta’s introduction of usernames for WhatsApp has hit a snag in India, as the government seeks to crack down on anonymous messaging as part of a wider campaign against fraud on global technology platforms.

India is Meta’s largest WhatsApp market and the company began rolling out usernames globally last week, allowing users to create a unique username instead of sharing their phone number. The feature also allows users to adopt their Instagram username, making it easier to connect across Meta’s platforms.

However, Reuters reported the Indian government has ordered WhatsApp to justify the feature and halt its rollout in the country while officials assess its impact. In a letter seen by Reuters, authorities gave the company three days to respond and argued that usernames could make it easier for fraudsters to carry out phishing attacks and impersonate users without revealing their phone numbers.

The move follows India’s temporary ban on Telegram last month over similar concerns that anonymous messaging was facilitating cybercrime. Telegram ultimately lost a legal challenge against the suspension.

The government’s letter warned that WhatsApp could lose legal protections under India’s IT laws if it failed to comply with due diligence requirements. Officials argued the username feature could materially increase online fraud by making it harder to identify malicious users.

WhatsApp said the feature is not yet live and will be introduced gradually later this year. The company stressed users will still need a phone number to register an account, while people will only be able to message others if they know their exact username. It added that safeguards against scams include limits on how many new users an account can contact and protections against repeated attempts to guess usernames.

The dispute marks the latest clash between India and major technology platforms as the government tightens oversight of online services. It also comes just a week after Meta appointed CRED founder Kunal Shah as WhatsApp’s global head, highlighting India’s strategic importance to the platform.