The Centre has expanded its scrutiny of username features on messaging platforms by sending notices to Telegram and Signal, following its earlier directive to Meta over WhatsApp’s proposed rollout. The IT Ministry’s notices seek detailed explanations from the two platforms on how they are addressing concerns related to fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams and impersonation attacks, which the government fears could rise if users communicate without revealing their phone numbers.
In the notice to Telegram, the government has specifically asked why the platform should be allowed to retain its existing username feature. Officials have raised similar apprehensions as those flagged in the WhatsApp case, where the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) directed the company to pause the feature’s implementation in India until consultations are completed to the government’s satisfaction. The notices underscore that such features could enable bad actors to more easily solicit victims and complicate tracing by law enforcement agencies, particularly when overseas numbers or misleading identities are involved.
The move comes days after MeitY issued a detailed notice to WhatsApp on July 1, citing the phased global rollout announced by the platform on June 29. That notice reminded Meta that WhatsApp, as a significant social media intermediary under the IT Act and Rules, 2021, must fulfil due-diligence obligations, including preventing the hosting or sharing of information that facilitates impersonation or is misleading about the origin of messages. It also invoked provisions related to identity theft and cheating by personation under the IT Act. WhatsApp has since defended the feature, highlighting built-in safeguards such as restrictions on contacting new accounts and indicators for messages from unfamiliar or overseas users.
India remains WhatsApp’s largest market with more than 500 million users, far outpacing Telegram’s base in the country. The latest notices to Telegram and Signal follow heightened regulatory attention on Telegram over the past month, including a temporary nationwide ban on the app and its web services until June 22 over the circulation of leaked and fake NEET examination papers, misleading content and other fraudulent activities linked to the medical entrance process. Telegram resumed services in India after the ban expired.
In a related development highlighting proactive compliance by domestic platforms, Zoho’s Indian messaging app Arattai has announced that it will voluntarily disable its username-based account feature to align with the evolving regulatory environment. Sridhar Vembu, Chief Scientist at Zoho, stated on social media that the decision was taken “to comply with the regulatory change,” adding a note of thanks to users. The move positions Arattai as responsive to government concerns around anonymity features while maintaining its focus on secure, privacy-oriented communication.
We will be disabling the user name based account feature in Arattai, to comply with the regulatory change.
— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) July 2, 2026
Thank you 🙏
The widening of regulatory attention to multiple global and local platforms reflects the Centre’s emphasis on balancing enhanced user privacy with robust safeguards against cybercrimes and identity misuse. Intermediaries are expected to provide comprehensive responses within the stipulated timelines, with the government making it clear that no compromise will be made on user safety or the ability of law enforcement agencies to act effectively. Further developments are awaited as the platforms prepare their submissions and consultations continue.
