Whatsapp’s ‘Username’ feature, which is expected to launch this year, may be banned. The government is concerned about fraud and the creation of fake accounts using other people’s names. According to reports, the Modi government will investigate this feature. There are reports that the government is considering legal options to block WhatsApp’s upcoming ‘Username’ feature. Booking for the WhatsApp username feature began on Monday night. A large number of people have reserved their usernames. However, there are also reports that people have booked usernames in other people’s names, including names like PM Narendra Modi and WhatsApp.
WhatsApp announced the rollout of this feature on Monday night. It was claimed that the usernames would be launched by the end of this year and people would be informed in advance.
However, on Tuesday morning, many people complained on social media that they were experiencing difficulties booking usernames. On the very first day, people were unable to find a username for their name.
In addition, screenshots were shared on social media indicating that usernames similar to those associated with prominent figures in the country, such as the Prime Minister, had been booked.
One such screenshot was shared, which stated that someone had booked a username using the WhatsApp name.
According to WhatsApp, WhatsApp usernames are the company’s biggest privacy feature to date. It is designed to keep people’s phone numbers safe. People will be able to connect on WhatsApp without revealing their phone numbers to anyone. Importantly, people can choose a username of their choice. It is not necessary that the username matches the handle of any other app. WhatsApp has clarified that this is a privacy feature, not a social media handle.
The company has stated that the feature will be rolled out by the end of this year. However, usernames can be reserved before then. According to WhatsApp, users will receive a notification in their app when the feature is available. WhatsApp has suggested that it would be best for users to choose a unique WhatsApp username that is known only to those they wish to contact.
The central government’s concerns regarding this are serious. If this feature is misused, it could lead to fraud. Therefore, it is possible that this feature may not be easily implemented in India due to legal options being considered.