On 1st July (Wednesday), the Modi government asked Meta to refrain from rolling out WhatsApp’s proposed username function in India until the privacy and security risks had been thoroughly discussed. On Thursday, the Meta subsidiary sought to alleviate worries regarding impersonations and fraud, emphasising the steps it took to safeguard users against online threats and cybercriminals.
The messaging application declared that usernames are optional and assured, “When usernames are made available, and you get a message from someone new, we’ll let you know the country origin and a warning for first-time outreach. Well-known public-figure names and their variations are held for verified owners. We’re also keeping a close eye on blocks and reports to take action against scammers,” while sharing the safety measures imposed by the company to protect the users.
Username reservations are here, as more and more people claim theirs, here’s answers to the top questions you’re asking ⬇️
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) July 1, 2026
Q: Are usernames mandatory?
A: Nope, they are optional.
Q: What if the username I want isn’t available?
A: There’s a few reasons you might not be able to…
It was also highlighted that no one could look up a username in WhatsApp, just as phone numbers cannot be found. According to WhatsApp, selecting an exclusive username alongside adding a username key are the “best ways” to prevent unwelcome communication. “All the current measures remain in place to prevent unwanted contact, including warnings with details about unknown senders (whether they’re a new account, if you share groups, what country they’re in) and the ability to block and report,” it added.
WhatsApp conveyed that an additional layer of security can be activated using a username, requiring another person to know both the username and username key to establish contact. It mentioned, “You can reset your key at any time to stop new inbound contact through your username.” The username can also be modified as long as the new one requested is not already taken.
It is required to link other Meta accounts in order to retain the same username as that of the Instagram or Facebook account. “This is one of the ways to reduce impersonation and to make sure you’re the legitimate owner of the account. But after that, you can unlink the account if you want, or you can choose a username unique to WhatsApp,” the company stated.
WhatsApp informed that current Facebook or Instagram usernames are proprietary to their owners. Only the legitimate owners are allowed to employ popular names and some versions of them, such as prominent people, celebrities, governmental organisations and Meta-verified accounts. “If you try to reserve those, the system will say it’s not available. Someone already claimed a common name; in that case, use the username generator,” it clarified.
“People are making false claims about reserving popular or well-known usernames – this isn’t true; only the legitimate account owners are able to reserve well-known public-figure names. We enabled reservations before usernames launch later this year because we think people will feel strongly about what username they want on WhatsApp. We’re taking our time and listening to feedback so that when it rolls out later this year, we get it right,” WhatsApp further asserted.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has sent a notice demanding a comprehensive explanation regarding its functions and safeguards to prevent misuse within three days, raising concerns about online scams, phishing, digital arrests, spoofing and impersonation attacks, including targeting of public figures, government officials, organisations and financial institutions by malicious actors.
