After stopping WhatsApp, Govt questions Telegram, Signal over Username feature
New Delhi, July 2: After stopping WhatsApp from introducing Username feature, the Government of India has questioned Telegram and Signal messaging Apps too over such a feature existing in these platforms.
The Ministry of Information Technology has sent notices to Telegram and Signal, asking how these platforms are addressing concerns related to fraud and impersonation risks.
The feature allows users to create unique usernames that can be used for connecting on the platform without sharing phone numbers.
The IT Ministry has written to Telegram and Signal, asking how concerns regarding fraud and impersonation are being addressed by these platforms since they already have the Username feature.
In the notice to Telegram, the government has asked the platform why it should be allowed to have the username feature.
The notices to Telegram and Signal follow the one issued to Meta, owner of WhatsApp which was going to introduce the Username feature.
The IT Ministry directed WhatsApp not to roll out the feature until consultations are held “to the satisfaction of the Government”.
The two cases are similar, but not the same.
While WhatsApp had announced its decision to roll out Username feature, Telegram already has the feature in place.
The user bases also differ significantly, with India being WhatsApp’s largest market and the platform having over 500 million users in the country, far exceeding Telegram’s reach.
In its notice to WhatsApp, the government had expressed concern that the proposed username feature may “materially increase” cases of online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks by enabling bad actors to solicit and message victims.
Meta was asked to explain why action shouldn’t be initiated under the IT Act and rules over WhatsApp’s new feature that may increase cybercrimes. The Centre also reminded Meta that WhatsApp, as a significant social media intermediary, was bound by due diligence obligations under the IT Act and rules.
WhatsApp, in a statement, had defended the feature, citing built-in safeguards to prevent scams and impersonations and protect users.
That was followed by a detailed set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) posted on social media that outlined details of the feature, the safeguards built in, and its plans to address concerns around impersonation, scams and unwanted contact as users begin reserving usernames. (BVI)
