Science TechnologyTuesday, 7 July 2026·The Hindu - National
WhatsApp username feature under government scrutiny; India rollout paused amid IT Act concerns
In July 2026, the Centre questioned WhatsApp’s username feature under the IT Act and asked Meta to pause rollout in India until consultations end.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In July 2026, the Centre issued a notice to Meta over WhatsApp’s planned username feature and asked it to pause the rollout in India until consultations are completed.
Key specifics
- The government notice was issued on July 1, 2026, and the original reply deadline was July 3, 2026.
- WhatsApp was given three more days to submit its response to the IT Ministry.
- The Centre said the feature could increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams and impersonation attacks.
- Meta was asked why action should not be initiated under the IT Act and rules against the feature.
- WhatsApp has about 50 crore users in India, and the company said usernames are not yet live.
Exam lens
TNPSC science and technology question type: IT Act, cyber safety, digital platforms, dates and regulatory powers. Key facts: July 1 notice, three-day extension, 50 crore users, fraud and impersonation concerns. One-liner: The WhatsApp username issue is a current example of government regulation of digital intermediaries under the IT Act.