- WhatsApp introduced username feature, now chat by hiding the number.
- This increased the risk of fraud, identity concealment and online scams.
- The IPS officer called it a big challenge for the law agencies.
- WhatsApp has made claims about security layers and preventing misuse.
WhatsApp Username Feature: Username feature has arrived on WhatsApp. This means that now people will be able to connect with other people by just giving their username without sharing their phone number. It is being considered an important feature for user privacy, but it has also brought with it many concerns. For example, people can be defrauded by giving false identity or by hiding the identity. There is already such a feature in Telegram, which can be used in scams etc. Now after the arrival of the new feature on WhatsApp, people have started asking the question whether this platform will also become a means of cheating.
How will the username feature work?
Till now, to contact someone on WhatsApp, it was necessary to have a phone number. After the new feature, phone number will not be required to connect with anyone. Like Telegram, this work can be done with username. If both the sender and receiver are using username, then the first time you send a message, only the username will be visible instead of the phone number. However, the need for mobile number has not gone away completely. Only the mobile number will be used for account safety, log-in and verification and your WhatsApp account will remain connected to the same mobile number as before. The username will just be a new way of identifying you.
What are the concerns about the new feature?
Knowing the mobile number makes it difficult to hide the identity, but now after the username is available, scammers and fraudsters will get a chance to misrepresent or hide their identity. There is also a possibility of increase in cases of fraud in the name of a big person with the help of similar username. Many people are also complaining about this on social media. Apart from this, this feature can also create problems for the investigating agencies. IPS officer Arun Bothra wrote on X that WhatsApp’s username-based identity feature can become a big challenge for law agencies. Due to one such feature, Telegram often comes to the fore in cases of investment scams, impersonation and cyber crimes. There are billions of users of WhatsApp. In such a situation, a small design choice can have a big impact on public safety.
WhatsApp talked about security measures
WhatsApp has defended this feature by saying that it will not replace the phone number. A phone number will still be required for registration. Apart from this, the company said that many layers of security have been included in this feature. Username keys will limit who can reach out to you. Apart from this, a limit has also been imposed on how many new people one can contact from one account. If someone misuses it, our system will detect that pattern and block it.
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