New Delhi: The Central Government is examining WhatsApp’s upcoming username feature due to growing concerns that it could be exploited for fraud and impersonation, according to sources familiar with the development.

Officials plan to evaluate the potential security risks associated with the update, noting that the Meta-owned platform's recent announcement has flagged major red flags. Sources stated that the feature could allow bad actors to create usernames that closely mimic those of official government agencies and established organisations, potentially facilitating widespread scam operations and impersonation. They warned that this loophole could carry severe consequences for public safety and societal security, emphasising that the government remains uncompromising on matters of national security.

The scrutiny follows WhatsApp's announcement of a new system that will enable users to connect using unique usernames, effectively eliminating the requirement to share personal phone numbers. Early reservations for these handles have already been opened ahead of a full rollout later this year.

"Starting this week, you can reserve a username to use later this year when we launch this feature," WhatsApp stated in an official blog post.

The messaging platform has maintained that the update is designed to bolster user privacy, particularly within large group chats or when interacting with new contacts, by removing the need to disclose phone numbers.
PTI