The government has issued a notice to Meta regarding the username feature of the recently launched WhatsApp. This new privacy feature of the instant messaging app will work to hide the mobile number of the users. In this, instead of the mobile number of the users, people will see the username created by them. The government has issued a notice to Meta saying that due to this new feature, incidents of cyber fraud may increase. The platform will have to be accountable for the fraud caused by this.
Responsibility will be decided on the platform
According to the report, the government has said that the platform will have to assure that the username feature or its products are not being misused for fraud or scam. Not only this, the government says that messaging platforms will have to be prepared for regulatory action in case of misuse of any product, be it through username or message edit feature, creation of fake groups or the like.
Let us tell you that the government had recently banned the messaging platform Telegram during the Re-NEET exam. The government took this action because of the editing feature of the app. The government says that any platform will have to assure that its architecture cannot be misused. Its responsibility will be decided on the platform.
What is WhatsApp’s argument?
WhatsApp spokesperson says that the username feature has been brought specifically to improve the privacy of the user and not to weaken the privacy. The company has put in place a number of security measures to prevent misuse of the platform, including impersonation detection systems, limits on the number of new people an account can contact through a username, protection against repeated username guessing attempts, and reserving high-profile usernames associated with celebrities, government agencies, and celebrities.
The username feature of WhatsApp has just been launched. In this people can reserve their favorite username. It will be fully rolled out in the coming few weeks. The purpose of bringing the username feature of WhatsApp is to hide the mobile numbers of people in group chats. The company claims that after the introduction of this feature, targeted fraud through SIM swap will be stopped.
Features will be evaluated
However, this new feature of WhatsApp will be evaluated by MeitY. For some time now, the government has done many things towards strengthening cyber security. People are being made aware about cyber crime. Some experts also believe that due to this new feature of WhatsApp, new threats like identity fraud, impersonation i.e. impersonating someone else may arise.
Also read – How to change your username on WhatsApp? Keep these things in mind before creating a new one
