Government Urges Meta Not to Launch WhatsApp Usernames Before Stakeholder Consultations

The Centre has asked Meta to defer the rollout of WhatsApp’s proposed username feature, directing the company not to introduce it until consultations with the government are completed.

In a notice issued to the tech giant, the government has sought a detailed explanation of the feature within three days and instructed Meta to keep the rollout on hold pending the outcome of the consultations.

The proposed feature would allow WhatsApp users to create a unique username, enabling them to connect with others without sharing their mobile phone numbers. The move is intended to enhance user privacy by offering an alternative to phone number-based communication, which is currently required to initiate contact on the platform.

Meta had planned a phased rollout of the feature. Under the plan, users would first be able to reserve their preferred usernames before the feature is made available more widely later this year. The company said the staggered rollout was designed to manage demand across WhatsApp’s global user base of more than 3 billion.

Explaining the feature, Meta said it is “designed to protect the privacy of your phone number” by allowing users to communicate without disclosing their personal contact details. For now, however, the rollout has been paused, with the government making it clear that the feature cannot be launched until its consultations with Meta are complete.