- WhatsApp responded to the government notice on the username dispute.
- The government has stopped the feature launch due to fear of increase in fraud.
- This feature provided the facility to communicate by hiding the mobile number.
- The government also sent notices to Telegram and Signal on the username feature.
WhatsApp Username Response: WhatsApp, which is surrounded by controversies regarding Username feature, has submitted its reply to the government notice on this matter. According to reports, the company has submitted its reply and now the government is reviewing it. Let us tell you that the Central Government had sent a notice to the company on Wednesday last week. In this, many questions were asked expressing concern over the username feature. Besides, the company was also ordered to stop the launch of this feature.
What was the controversy regarding the username feature?
WhatsApp wants to roll out the username feature on its platform. For this, it had given its users the option to reserve their username. With the username feature, WhatsApp users get the option to hide their mobile number. That means there is no need to give or take a mobile number to contact someone on WhatsApp. Like Instagram and Facebook, this work could be done only with the username, but after the government order, this has been banned at present.
Why is the government concerned about this feature?
Many people had complained on social media regarding this feature of WhatsApp. He said that he is not able to reserve his name and someone else can use his identity. The government had banned it due to such concerns. The government says that this feature may increase cases of scams, cyber fraud, fraud by hiding identity etc. Apart from this, if a person creates a username similar to someone else’s name or that of a government department or bank etc., then it will become easy to cheat people. However, WhatsApp defended it and said that it has made adequate security arrangements and this feature is not being launched yet.
After WhatsApp, notices sent to Telegram and Signal also
The username feature was already available on platforms like Telegram and Signal. After the WhatsApp issue came to light, the government had also sent notices to both these platforms. The government had sent a notice asking these companies what is the process of creating a username and what are the security measures to prevent fake or similar usernames? Till now, information regarding receipt of replies from these companies has not been revealed. This week, IT Secretary S Krishnan had said that both the platforms have been given additional time and their answers will also come soon.
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