India, July 3 -- The Centre has widened its scrutiny of username-based messaging platforms by sending notices to Telegram and Signal, days after directing WhatsApp to pause the rollout of its upcoming username feature in India.

According to a PTI report, the IT ministry (MeitY) has sought details from both platforms on how they address fraud, impersonation and other cybercrime risks linked to usernames, which allow users to connect without sharing their phone numbers.

Unlike WhatsApp, both Telegram and Signal already support username-based messaging. Per report, the government has asked Telegram why it should continue offering the feature and has sought similar explanations from Signal on the safeguards it has in place.

Amid the scruti...