WhatsApp, a Meta-backed messaging platform, has promised the Indian government that its planned username feature would not be introduced in the nation until discussions with authorities are finished.
The government notice seeking clarification on the feature has also given the Meta-owned messaging platform three more days to respond. Friday was the deadline for WhatsApp’s response.
WhatsApp had previously suggested a username function that would let users talk on the site without providing their phone numbers.
Concerns about how such a move may increase the dangers of impersonation, phishing, and online fraud were raised by the Central government last week in a formal notice.
On Friday, a Meta team met with officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to discuss the situation after the government urged WhatsApp to put the feature on hold until the security and consumer protection issues it raises are resolved through conversation.
In preparation for a wider deployment later this year, WhatsApp restated earlier this week that the username feature has several built-in protections to ward off impersonation, frauds, and unwelcome contact.
Following concerns about the feature, including those raised by the government, which has requested that the company postpone its implementation in the nation until discussions are completed, the messaging platform responded to a number of often asked questions on X.
Users won’t have to create a username, according to the business, and existing Instagram and Facebook usernames, as well as those of public personalities, celebrities, governmental organizations, and Meta Verified accounts, have been set aside so that only their rightful owners may claim them.