India has reportedly asked Meta to delay the rollout of WhatsApp’s upcoming username feature in the country, citing fears it could fuel fraud and impersonation cases, according to media reports on Thursday.
The request comes as Indian authorities continue to battle a sharp rise in cybercrime, with scammers increasingly targeting users who may have limited awareness of digital safety practices.
WhatsApp, which is owned by US tech giant Meta, had announced earlier this week that users globally would soon be able to connect using unique usernames instead of phone numbers, a move aimed at improving privacy.
However, Indian officials warned that the feature could also make it easier for criminals to deceive users by posing as legitimate contacts.
In a letter to Meta, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said the new system could increase risks of phishing, online scams, impersonation and so-called “digital arrest” frauds, according to local media reports.
A senior official was quoted as saying that bad actors could easily claim usernames and message users while pretending to be someone else, adding that it would be difficult for less tech-savvy individuals to identify such scams.
The ministry has reportedly asked Meta to pause the rollout until further consultations are completed.
India remains WhatsApp’s largest market, with more than 500 million users, making the issue particularly significant for both regulators and the company.
Meta, meanwhile, said the feature has not yet been launched in India and stressed that safeguards are in place, including reserving usernames for public figures and verified accounts to prevent impersonation.
The company also noted that phone numbers will still be required to use WhatsApp, with additional layers of security built into the username system.
The username feature is already used on other messaging platforms such as WeChat in China.
Cyber fraud cases in India have surged in recent years, with government data showing losses of nearly US$3 billion in 2025 alone, a dramatic increase compared to previous years.
