The order, released by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), was made just days following WhatsApp's announcement about launching usernames worldwide, enabling users to link up without exchanging their mobile numbers as part of an effort to improve confidentiality.
India, which has over 500 million users and is WhatsApp's biggest market, voiced worries that this feature might facilitate cybercriminals in mimicking people and organizations, especially among those who have low levels of digital awareness.
As per news coverage, the department, in a communication with Meta, cautioned that this function might lead to more cases of cybercrime, fake email schemes, virtual detention deceptions, and personal data misuse.
A high-ranking government representative stated that cybercriminals might adopt user names similar to real people's and exploit them to mislead unaware users.
The ministry is said to have requested Meta from launching the feature in India until discussions with the government are completed and the company offers adequate clarifications regarding the protections incorporated in the system. Officials have also instructed WhatsApp to address these issues within three days.
In response to the worries, Meta mentioned that the username function was still not available in India and emphasized that several safety protocols have been put in place to stop misuse.
The firm mentioned that user names belonging to well-known public individuals and confirmed entities have already been secured to avoid fake representations.
Meta mentioned that users would still need a phone number to sign up for WhatsApp, and the service has implemented multiple levels of security measures, such as message limits when contacting unfamiliar users, controls against repeated efforts to guess user names, and tools designed to identify and eliminate fake accounts and fraudulent activity.
Recent advancements occur alongside India's increased initiatives to address cybercrime, following a significant increase in online fraudulent activities throughout the nation.
Official statistics show that monetary damages caused by online scams have increased substantially over the past few years, leading to more detailed examination of internet services and their protective measures.
Supplied by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).