India, July 13 -- The Indian government is examining Meta's response to concerns over WhatsApp's proposed username feature, with the rollout in India remaining on hold for now. The government is also considering a common regulatory framework for messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal to ensure uniform safety standards against online fraud, impersonation and phishing scams.

Why Is the Government Reviewing WhatsApp's Username Feature?

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had issued a notice to Meta after raising concerns that WhatsApp's planned username feature could make it easier for cybercriminals to impersonate users, businesses and government agencies. The feature would allow users to comm...