India don ask WhatsApp to stop di rollout of new feature wey go let users chat with unique usernames, no need to share phone numbers. Di government say dis feature fit increase online fraud and phishing scams for di country.
Di feature, wey go allow users to connect without exposing dia phone numbers, dey expected to reach WhatsApp three billion users worldwide for di next few months. But India, wey get over 850 million WhatsApp users, na di biggest market for di Meta-owned app.
For one notice wey BBC see, di Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology ask WhatsApp to explain why dem no go take action against di company under Indian law for launching feature wey fit increase cybercrimes. Di notice say di feature fit allow criminals to contact potential victims without showing dia phone numbers, and e fit facilitate impersonation of individuals, government authorities, financial institutions, and public agencies.
Di ministry warn say di feature fit increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks. Dem tell WhatsApp not to roll out di feature until consultation with di government reach satisfaction.
WhatsApp, for dia statement, say di feature no dey live yet and dem don build safeguards. Dem say dem dey hold high-profile names like public figures, government entities, celebrities, and verified Meta accounts so dat only legitimate owners fit claim dem. Dem also say users still need phone number to create account, and dem go limit how many new people fit contact an account, block repeated attempts to guess username, and detect impersonation patterns.
Cybercrimes na big problem for India. Nearly 102,000 cases dem register for 2024, up 18% from di previous year, and almost three-quarters of dem involve online fraud.
Di Internet Freedom Foundation, one digital rights group, criticize di government notice. Dem say di notice get no clear basis for law and dey amount to government trying to decide wetin software feature company fit launch. Dem argue say di power to require prior permission for feature no dey inside Information Technology Act or di Rules.
Dis na di latest move by India to increase oversight of global technology companies. For February, di government amend rules to require social media platforms remove unlawful content within three hours of notification, instead of 36 hours. Last month, authorities temporarily ban Telegram during medical entrance exam retest.
