India’s IT Ministry has given Meta-owned WhatsApp three more days to answer concerns over its planned username feature. The company has also assured the government it will not roll out the feature in India until discussions are complete.

The feature would let WhatsApp users communicate without sharing phone numbers by using usernames for chats and calls.

In a notice issued last week, the ministry said usernames could increase the risks of fraud, phishing, impersonation, and “digital arrest” scams. Indian authorities have previously issued guidance on such fraud.

Under India’s intermediary rules, significant social media platforms such as WhatsApp must meet due diligence requirements to retain immunity under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act.

Failure to comply could result in the loss of safe-harbor protections and expose the platform to civil and criminal liability.

🔗 Source: The Economic Times