MeitY extends Meta’s deadline on WhatsApp username issue to July 9

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has extended Meta’s deadline by three days to submit its response on the controversial rollout of the username feature on WhatsApp, amid heightened regulatory scrutiny of the company’s platforms in India.A government official told Hindustan Times that the revised deadline for Meta’s reply is now July 9. Earlier, the ministry had sought a response from WhatsApp by July 6 after officials raised concerns around the new username feature, particularly its potential for misuse, impersonation and fraud.Earlier this week, the government issued notices to Meta-owned WhatsApp, as well as Telegram and Signal, seeking information on their username features and the safeguards in place to prevent fraud, impersonation and other forms of misuse. Officials are also examining WhatsApp’s proposed restrictions on usernames, its verification measures, and the reporting mechanisms available to users.The notices were issued by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology as part of a broader review of emerging risks linked to new identity features on messaging platforms, especially those that could weaken existing phone-number-based authentication systems.According to officials, the additional time granted to Meta is aimed at allowing the company to submit a comprehensive response addressing regulatory concerns, including user safety, content moderation, and compliance with Indian laws.