When the government cracked the whip on WhatsApp, the company itself fell in line and removed the username feature..

Following strict directives from the Government of India, the homegrown chatting app Arattai has decided to remove the username-based account feature from its platform. Sridhar Vembu, co-founder of Arattai's parent company Zoho, announced this on the microblogging platform X. He stated that the company would discontinue the username-based account feature to comply with regulatory changes. This decision comes at a time when the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has temporarily halted Meta from launching the WhatsApp username feature in India. The government has instructed the company not to implement this feature until discussions regarding all aspects of security and cyber fraud are concluded.

WhatsApp was preparing to introduce a feature allowing users to chat using only a username, without sharing their mobile numbers. The company argued that this would enhance user privacy. However, the government is concerned that cybercriminals could exploit this facility to impersonate banks, government departments, companies, or celebrities. This could lead to an increase in incidents such as phishing, online fraud, and "digital arrests."

According to reports, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has sought comprehensive details from Meta regarding the feature's technical specifications, security protocols, and fraud-prevention measures. The company has been asked to respond within a few days. The government has also reminded the company of the platform's obligations under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Intermediary Guidelines, 2021.

**What WhatsApp Said**
WhatsApp states that the username feature is currently only in the reservation phase and has not yet been rolled out for chatting. The company clarified that a mobile number will remain mandatory for account creation. Meta claims to have developed several features—such as reserved usernames for government institutions and public figures, restrictions on similar usernames, optional username PINs, and enhanced security for first-time messages—to address these concerns. 

Impact Visible on Other Platforms Too
Arattai's decision is seen as an indication that the government's strict stance is now beginning to impact other messaging platforms as well. Experts believe that stricter regulations regarding username-based identification features could be introduced in the future. Consequently, messaging companies may need to modify their features to align with India's cybersecurity standards.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from News18 Hindi. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.