India's MeitY is pushing to create standardized regulations for messaging apps after raising concerns over WhatsApp's new username feature, which it fears may facilitate impersonation and complicate law enforcement efforts.
- MeitY opposes WhatsApp usernames due to fraud and impersonation risks.
- No current law defines permissible messaging app features.
- Common standards aim to ensure uniform regulation across platforms.
What happened
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has formally opposed WhatsApp’s introduction of a username feature in India. The ministry fears that this new element could increase cases of impersonation, online fraud, and difficulties in law enforcement investigations, given WhatsApp’s large user base.
While WhatsApp was asked to halt this rollout, other platforms like Telegram have been allowed to continue offering usernames, raising concerns about inconsistent regulatory treatment. MeitY is now pursuing a legal framework to ensure that messaging platforms adhere to uniform rules.
Why it matters
Currently, India's IT Act, 2000, and its 2021 intermediary rules govern messaging platforms as intermediaries but do not specify what features these platforms are permitted to offer or empower the government to pre-approve or block features before launch.
This regulatory gap allows for differing approaches to similar features across platforms, which MeitY considers unfair and potentially harmful. Establishing consistent rules will provide legal clarity to the tech industry and safeguard users from misuse and scams while balancing law enforcement needs.
What to watch next
MeitY intends to engage with all major messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and Arattai, to devise common feature standards and possibly implement regulations that prevent rollout of features without government consultation.