The Indian government has sent notices to Telegram and Signal over their username features, seeking explanations on how the platforms prevent impersonation and misuse, according to reports. The move comes after the government asked WhatsApp to pause its planned username rollout over similar concerns.
Officials have raised fears that username-based messaging could make it easier to hide phone numbers and increase the risk of fraud, phishing and impersonation attacks. The government has reportedly asked the companies to detail the safeguards they use to protect users from such abuse.
The scrutiny now extends beyond WhatsApp to platforms that already offer usernames, including Telegram and Signal. Reports said the government wants to understand whether these features could be used to target users while obscuring identity.
On Friday, IT Secretary S Krishnan said usernames could facilitate cybercrime by enabling impersonation and identity spoofing. WhatsApp has said its feature is not yet live and that it has built safeguards, including optional controls and monitoring for scam patterns.
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