WhatsApp gets 3-day extension on India notice, pledges no username rollout until talks end

Updated - July 06, 2026 09:10 pm IST | New Delhi

PTI

Meta-owned WhatsApp has received additional time to respond to the government's notice regarding its controversial 'username' feature, and has assured authorities that the feature will not be launched in India until discussions are complete, sources confirmed.

The messaging platform has been granted a three-day extension to file its reply to the government notice, after requesting more time to prepare its submission, sources told PTI.

What the Username Feature Does

The username feature enables users to communicate on the platform without sharing their phone numbers.

Government Concerns and Notice

On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the Centre issued a notice to Meta questioning the planned username feature on WhatsApp, raising concerns that it could significantly increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks.

The government directed WhatsApp to pause the feature until consultations on the issue are completed "to the satisfaction of the Government."

Timeline and Developments

• Original deadline: Friday, July 3, 2026
• Extension granted: Three additional days to submit a reply to the IT Ministry
• Meeting: A Meta team met with IT Ministry officials on Friday, July 3, 2026, following the notice
• Assurance: WhatsApp has assured the government it will not roll out the feature until discussions conclude

Legal Context

In its notice, the Centre asked Meta to explain why action should not be initiated under the IT Act and rules over the new feature's potential to increase cybercrimes. The government also reminded Meta that WhatsApp, as a significant social media intermediary, is bound by due diligence obligations under the IT Act and rules.

WhatsApp's Response

An email sent to WhatsApp did not elicit an immediate reply. However, a WhatsApp spokesperson stated last week that the username feature is not yet live and will roll out slowly later this year.

Safeguards Highlighted by WhatsApp

• Impersonation protection: High-profile names — including public figures, government entities, celebrities, and verified Meta accounts — are held so they can only be claimed by legitimate owners. Lookalike derivatives of known names are also held.
• Phone number still required: Users still need a phone number to use WhatsApp.
• Multiple defence layers: Built into the username feature to counter scams.
• Contact limitations: Limits on how many new people an account can contact.
• Anti-abuse systems: Blocks repeated attempts to guess someone's username key, and detects and removes activity showing common impersonation and abuse patterns.
• First-time sender information: WhatsApp will show whether a first-time sender is a new account, a contact, a mutual group member, or from another country before users respond.

"When the feature becomes available, and someone sends a message for the first time via your username, we will show you if they're a new account, if they're your contact, if you have groups in common, and if they're based in a different country, so you can decide whether to respond," WhatsApp said.

Broader Regulatory Scrutiny

After sending the notice to WhatsApp, the IT Ministry also issued notices to Telegram and Signal, raising questions about their existing username features and asking how these platforms address concerns related to fraud and impersonation risks.

• WhatsApp user base in India: 50 crore (500 million)
• Telegram's reach: A fraction of WhatsApp's user base

Additional Regulatory Actions

• Meta: Received a stern notice from the government on Saturday, July 4, 2026, regarding child sexual abuse material in Instagram ads.
• Telegram: Served a notice directing it to crack down on the "widespread dissemination" of pirated films, OTT content, and other audio-visual material through its platform.

Published - July 06, 2026 07:30 pm IST