Indian government has directed WhatsApp to halt the rollout of its planned username feature and explain how it intends to address concerns related to online fraud, phishing, and user anonymity. The move marks another step in India's increasing scrutiny of global technology platforms and messaging services.

According to a government letter reviewed by Reuters, authorities have asked WhatsApp to suspend the feature's launch in India until consultations with the government are completed. The company has also been given three days to respond to the concerns raised by officials.

The directive comes just days after WhatsApp announced the phased global rollout of usernames, a feature designed to allow users to connect without sharing their personal phone numbers.

What Is WhatsApp's Username Feature?

The new feature allows users to create a unique username that can be shared instead of their mobile phone number. Once fully launched, people will be able to message one another using usernames, improving privacy by reducing the need to disclose personal contact details.

According to WhatsApp, users will still need a valid phone number to create and verify an account. The username system is intended only as an additional way to communicate while offering greater privacy.

The company also said that users would need to know another person's exact username before they could initiate a conversation.

Government Raises Fraud and Security Concerns

Indian authorities believe the username feature could make it easier for cybercriminals to hide their identities while targeting victims.

In its letter, the government warned that allowing users to communicate without displaying phone numbers could increase the risk of phishing attacks, online scams, identity theft, impersonation, and financial fraud.

Officials argued that anonymous communication tools could make it more difficult for law enforcement agencies to identify individuals involved in cybercrime.

The concerns are similar to those previously raised against Telegram, where Indian authorities cited anonymity features as a challenge during cybercrime investigations.

WhatsApp Says Safeguards Are Already Built In

Responding to the government's concerns, a WhatsApp spokesperson clarified that the username feature has not yet been launched publicly and will be introduced gradually later this year.

The company said several security protections have already been built into the feature.

These include limits on how many new users an account can contact within a certain period, restrictions on repeated attempts to guess usernames, and additional anti-scam protections designed to reduce fraudulent activity.

WhatsApp emphasized that phone numbers will still be required for account registration, meaning usernames will not replace the existing verification process.

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India Tightens Oversight of Global Tech Platforms

The latest action reflects India's growing efforts to regulate major technology companies operating in the country.

India is WhatsApp's largest global market, with more than 500 million users, making any regulatory decision particularly significant for the company.

In recent years, the Indian government has introduced stricter rules for digital platforms concerning user safety, content moderation, online fraud, and compliance with local information technology laws.

The latest directive follows previous regulatory actions involving messaging platform Telegram and social media platform X, formerly Twitter, over issues related to anonymity, cybersecurity, and compliance with government orders.

Legal Debate Over Government's Powers

The government's letter states that online platforms could lose certain legal protections under India's Information Technology Act if they fail to meet due diligence requirements designed to prevent misuse of their services.

However, digital rights organizations have questioned whether existing laws allow authorities to stop a feature before it has officially launched.

The Internet Freedom Foundation argued that current regulations do not clearly authorize the government to approve or reject new product features before deployment. The organization warned that such actions could create broader questions about innovation, privacy, and government oversight of digital services.

For now, WhatsApp's username rollout in India remains on hold while discussions between the company and the government continue. The outcome could influence how future privacy-focused features are introduced in one of the world's largest digital markets.