After WhatsApp, India Sends Notices to Telegram, Signal

The notices do not amount to a ban but show New Delhi is widening its review of username-based messaging across major apps.

TMR Staff Editor

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    • India has widened its scrutiny of username-based messaging, issuing notices to Telegram and Signal after asking WhatsApp to pause the rollout of a similar feature, Reuters reported.

    The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has asked Telegram and Signal to explain what safeguards they have against misuse of usernames for impersonation, phishing, online fraud and “digital arrest” scams, the report said.

    Telegram and Signal have allowed users to communicate through usernames for years.

    The notices suggest the government is examining similar features across messaging platforms, not just WhatsApp’s planned rollout.

    Earlier this week, MeitY asked Meta to halt the rollout of WhatsApp usernames in India and submit an explanation within three days.

    The feature allows users to connect without sharing phone numbers, a privacy measure that the government fears could make it harder to identify fraudsters.

    The notices do not amount to a ban but signal a closer review of how messaging apps prevent misuse when users can communicate without exposing phone numbers.

    The move comes amid wider government concern over online fraud and anonymity on digital platforms.

    Digital rights group Internet Freedom Foundation has criticized MeitY’s action against WhatsApp, questioning the legal basis for ordering a pause before the feature is fully rolled out.

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