After WhatsApp, Centre seeks responses from Telegram and Signal on usernames: Reports

The Union government on Friday issued notices to messaging platforms Telegram and Signal seeking details of the safeguards they have put in place to prevent fraud and impersonation through username-based communication features, the Hindustan Times reported, quoting an unidentified government official.

The notice was two days after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had asked WhatsApp to pause the rollout of a similar feature.

“The rules apply to everyone,” the official told the newspaper. “Similar notices will be sent to Telegram and Signal on Friday.”

The ministry has asked Telegram and Signal to explain how they prevent misuse of features that allow users to communicate without revealing their phone numbers, according to The Times of India.

The ministry has raised concerns that such features could facilitate “scams, phishing, digital arrest frauds and identity impersonation”.

In Telegram’s case, the government has also asked why the platform should be allowed to continue offering the username feature.

The companies have been given three days to respond, The Times of India reported, quoting unidentified persons familiar with the matter.

The notices follow the ministry’s direction to Meta-owned WhatsApp on Wednesday to pause the rollout of its proposed username feature until consultations with the government are completed.

In response to the government’s concerns, WhatsApp said that, to protect against misuse, usernames associated with public figures, government entities, celebrities and verified accounts on its...

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