Messaging platform Telegram has submitted its reply to the Indian IT Ministry's notice regarding its 'username' feature, which allows users to communicate without sharing phone numbers, as the government scrutinises potential risks like online fraud and impersonation.
Key Points
- Telegram has submitted its response to the IT Ministry's notice concerning its 'username' feature, which enables communication without phone number sharing.
- WhatsApp previously responded to a similar notice, and both companies' submissions are currently under government review.
- The IT Ministry raised concerns that the 'username' feature could increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks.
- WhatsApp has assured the government it will not launch the feature in India until consultations are satisfactorily completed.
- Telegram and Signal also received notices regarding their existing 'username' features and measures to address fraud and impersonation risks.
After WhatsApp, messaging platform Telegram has also submitted its reply to the IT Ministry's notice on the 'username' feature, according to sources.
Submissions of both WhatsApp and Telegram are currently being examined by the government, sources told PTI.
The username feature essentially allows people on the messaging platforms to communicate without sharing their phone numbers.
Government Scrutiny and Concerns
On Thursday evening, the government received WhatsApp's reply to the notice on the 'username' feature.
The reply of Telegram has also been received subsequently, they added.
The content of the responses could not be immediately ascertained, and there was no official comment from either company.
The IT Ministry issued a notice to WhatsApp last Wednesday, questioning the Meta-owned platform's proposed username feature, as the government flagged concerns that it could materially increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks.
The Centre had also directed WhatsApp not to launch the feature until consultations on the issue are completed 'to the satisfaction of the government'.
WhatsApp had subsequently assured the government that it would not roll it out in India until discussions are complete.
Notices to Other Platforms and Broader Regulatory Action
After sending a notice to WhatsApp, the IT Ministry had shot off notices to Telegram and Signal too, raising questions on their existing 'username' feature and asking how the platforms are addressing concerns related to fraud and impersonation risks.
While WhatsApp has 50 crore users in India, Telegram's reach is a fraction of that.
Notably, over the last few days, Meta and Telegram have also faced regulatory scrutiny on multiple other fronts.
While the government issued a stern notice to Meta on child sexual abuse material in Instagram ads on Saturday, Telegram was served a notice directing it to crack down on the 'widespread dissemination' of pirated films, OTT content and other audio-visual material through its platform.
