🔥 Trending Government Cracks Down on Username Features: Telegram and Signal Receive Notices

The Indian government has recently intensified its scrutiny of messaging applications, issuing formal notices to Telegram and Signal regarding their username features. This move follows a similar notice sent to Meta concerning WhatsApp's proposed username functionality ¹²⁴.

Background of the Notices

On July 3, 2026, India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) dispatched legal notices to Telegram and Signal ¹². These notices demand explanations regarding the safeguards implemented around features that allow users to communicate without revealing their phone numbers ². The government's concern stems from the potential misuse of these username-based messaging capabilities for cybercrimes and other illicit activities ⁵⁶.

Key Concerns Expressed by the Government

The Indian government has articulated several specific concerns regarding the username features on these messaging platforms:

• Anonymity and Identity Masking: The primary worry is that username-based communication, which allows users to connect without sharing their mobile numbers, could enable individuals to mask their true identities ⁵.
• Facilitation of Cybercrimes: Officials are concerned that this anonymity could make it easier for fraudsters to carry out various cybercrimes, including:
• Phishing attacks: Deceptive attempts to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details ⁵.
• Impersonation: Pretending to be another person to deceive or defraud ⁵.
• "Digital arrest" scams: A type of fraud where scammers impersonate law enforcement officials and threaten victims with arrest if they don't comply with their demands ⁵.
• Online fraud: A broad category encompassing various deceptive practices conducted over the internet ⁵⁸.
• Lack of Accountability: The government believes that the ability to communicate without revealing a phone number could reduce accountability and make it harder to trace perpetrators of illegal activities ⁶.

Precedent with WhatsApp

The notices to Telegram and Signal come shortly after MeitY issued a notice to Meta regarding WhatsApp's planned username feature ³⁴. Meta representatives have since met with MeitY officials to address these concerns, which also revolved around impersonation, phishing, and online fraud ⁷. The government had specifically asked WhatsApp to pause the rollout of its upcoming username feature ³.

Implications and Industry Response

The Indian government's actions highlight a growing tension between user privacy features offered by messaging apps and the government's desire for greater oversight and accountability to combat cybercrime ⁶. The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) has criticized India's widened crackdown on username features, calling it unlawful ¹. The messaging platforms are now expected to provide explanations and outline the safeguards they have in place to mitigate the risks identified by the government ²³.