MeitY mulls common standards for messaging apps after WhatsApp username row
Synopsis
India's push to regulate WhatsApp's username feature has quietly expanded into something bigger — a potential sector-wide standards regime for all messaging platforms. With both WhatsApp and Telegram now under notice, MeitY appears to be laying the groundwork for uniform rules that could reshape how over-the-top communication apps operate in one of their largest markets.
Key Takeaways
MeitY is reportedly exploring a common regulatory framework for all messaging platforms operating in India .
The review was triggered by the government's opposition to WhatsApp 's proposed username feature, which allows communication without sharing phone numbers.
The government cited risks of digital arrest scams , phishing, and impersonation as key concerns.
WhatsApp has been directed not to roll out the username feature in India until government consultations are complete.
Telegram also submitted a reply to a separate government notice on the same username-related concerns in July .
The Centre is expected to consult major messaging platforms before finalising any new standards.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is reportedly exploring a uniform regulatory framework for messaging platforms operating in India, following the controversy triggered by WhatsApp's proposed username feature. The move, according to multiple reports, signals a shift from platform-specific interventions toward a sector-wide standards regime.
What Prompted the Review
The immediate trigger was the government's opposition to WhatsApp's username feature, which would allow users to communicate without disclosing their mobile phone numbers. MeitY raised concerns that the feature could enable fraudsters to impersonate users, facilitate so-called digital arrest scams, and complicate law enforcement investigations. The ministry directed WhatsApp not to roll out the feature in India until consultations were completed to the government's satisfaction.
Telegram Also in the Frame
The scrutiny has not been limited to WhatsApp. Telegram — which already offers a username-based communication model — submitted its reply to a government notice on the same issue earlier in July, following a similar response from WhatsApp. The parallel notices indicate that the Centre is treating the username question as a cross-platform concern rather than a WhatsApp-specific one.
The Proposed Framework
According to reports, MeitY is now considering common standards that would apply uniformly across all messaging platforms, rather than issuing individual directives to each service. The Centre is expected to consult major messaging platforms before finalising any such framework. This approach, if adopted, would mark a notable evolution in how India regulates over-the-top (OTT) communication services.
Why It Matters
The username feature debate sits at the intersection of user privacy and law enforcement access — two interests that are often in tension. Proponents argue that username-based communication offers a meaningful privacy safeguard, particularly for users wary of sharing phone numbers with strangers. Critics, including the government, contend that anonymising communication channels creates fertile ground for online fraud, phishing, and impersonation attacks. This comes amid a broader global conversation about platform accountability and the limits of end-to-end encryption. India, with one of the world's largest bases of WhatsApp users, carries significant weight in how platforms calibrate their global feature rollouts.
What Happens Next
A final decision on the common regulatory framework is contingent on consultations with messaging platforms, the timeline for which has not been officially announced. Industry observers expect the outcome to set a precedent for how India governs messaging-layer features going forward.
Point of View
Given that Telegram and others offer similar or more expansive anonymisation features. The harder question is whether a common standard can thread the needle between user privacy and law enforcement access, or whether it will simply mandate traceability under a different label. India has been here before: the 2021 IT Rules required platforms to identify the 'first originator' of messages, a provision that drew legal challenges and remains contested. Any new framework will face the same fundamental tension — and the same scrutiny.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Indian government opposing WhatsApp's username feature?
The government argues that allowing users to communicate without sharing phone numbers could make it easier for fraudsters to impersonate others, run digital arrest scams, and evade law enforcement. MeitY has directed WhatsApp not to launch the feature in India until consultations are concluded.
What is the common regulatory framework MeitY is considering?
MeitY is reportedly exploring uniform standards that would apply to all messaging platforms in India, rather than issuing platform-specific directives. The framework is still under consideration, and the Centre is expected to consult major platforms before finalising it.
Has Telegram also received a government notice over the username feature?
Yes. Telegram submitted its reply to a government notice on the username feature earlier in July, around the same time WhatsApp responded to a similar notice. Both platforms offer functionality that allows users to communicate without revealing their mobile numbers.
What are digital arrest scams and why are they relevant here?
Digital arrest scams involve fraudsters impersonating law enforcement or government officials — typically over calls or messages — to extort money from victims. The government contends that username-based communication, by obscuring identities, could make such scams easier to execute and harder to trace.
What happens next in this regulatory process?
The Centre is expected to hold consultations with major messaging platforms before any framework is finalised. No official timeline has been announced. The outcome is likely to set a precedent for how India regulates messaging-layer features across all over-the-top communication services.
