The Indian government has widened its scrutiny of username-based messaging by issuing notices to Telegram and Signal, days after directing WhatsApp to pause the rollout of its username feature in India. According to a Reuters report, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has asked both platforms to explain the safeguards they have in place to prevent misuse of usernames for impersonation, phishing, online fraud and so-called "digital arrest" scams. The move comes after the government raised similar concerns withWhatsAppearlier this week. The Centre had asked Meta to put the rollout on hold and explain the feature within three days. It had also warned that if the feature poses risks to users or lacks adequate safeguards, it may consider legal action or other regulatory steps before allowing a wider rollout. Usernames allow people to connect without sharing their phone numbers. While the feature is designed to improve privacy, the government believes it could also make it easier for fraudsters to hide their identity and impersonate individuals, companies or government officials. Telegram has offered username-based messaging for years, while Signal also allows users to create usernames. The latest notices indicate that the government is now reviewing similar features across all major messaging platforms instead of focusing only on WhatsApp. The notices do not mean the feature has been banned. However, they signal that the Centre is closely examining whether messaging platforms have enough safeguards to prevent misuse. The outcome of these discussions could shape how username-based communication features are rolled out in India and may lead to additional compliance requirements for digital platforms. Bareback Media has recently raised funding from a group of investors. Some of the investors may directly or indirectly be involved in a competing business or might be associated with other companies we might write about. This shall, however, not influence our reporting or coverage in any manner whatsoever. You may find a list of our investorshere.
