NEW DELHI: A team from Meta met officials from the IT ministry on Friday after the Centre issued a notice over WhatsApp’s proposed username feature, PTI reported citing sources.The company is required to submit its final response within the three-day deadline set by the government.“Meta team met Meity officials today following the notice summoning them on the issue of rollout of the ‘usernames’ feature on WhatsApp in India. Ministry officials sensitised them about the government’s concern relating to the feature,” according to sources.The meeting comes after the Centre sought an explanation from WhatsApp over the new feature, which allows users to create usernames instead of sharing their phone numbers.The government has expressed concerns that the feature could make it easier for cybercriminals to impersonate individuals, government agencies and financial institutions, increasing the risk of online fraud, phishing and digital arrest scams.Earlier this week, MeitY issued a formal notice to Meta asking the company to explain the feature and directed it not to roll it out until consultations with the government are completed.IT Secretary S Krishnan had said the government was concerned that usernames could facilitate cybercrime by enabling impersonation and identity spoofing. He also indicated that WhatsApp would not be allowed to proceed with the rollout unless its response satisfactorily addressed the government’s concerns.WhatsApp has maintained that the username feature is not yet live and will be introduced gradually later this year with several safeguards.The company said usernames will be optional and not searchable by strangers. It added that prominent usernames, including those of public figures, government entities, celebrities and verified Meta accounts, have been reserved to prevent impersonation.WhatsApp also said it plans to introduce additional safety measures, including warnings for first-time messages, an optional “username key” for added protection, and systems to detect suspicious activity.The Centre has also sent similar notices to Telegram and Signal, seeking details about their username features and the safeguards they have in place to prevent misuse.
