Username feature: Telegram submits reply to IT Ministry’s notice

Messaging platform Telegram has reportedly submitted its reply to the notice from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in connection with its ‘username’ feature.

This comes after a similar response from WhatsApp. Insiders told IANS that the government is currently examining the submissions made by both messaging platforms.

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Under the ‘username’ feature, users are allowed to communicate with others without sharing their mobile phone numbers. However, the function has drawn the central government’s attention over concerns that it could facilitate online fraud, phishing, impersonation and so-called digital arrest scams.

Earlier, WhatsApp submitted its response to Centre’s notice regarding its proposed username feature, with MeitY currently examining the company’s submissions.

The notice to WhatsApp was issued by the ministry last week, wherein it raised concerns that the proposed feature might potentially lead to a rise in online fraud, phishing, digital-arrest scams and impersonation attacks.

Notably, the government had asked the messaging platform to avoid rolling out the username feature in India until consultations on the issue were completed to its satisfaction.

Through this proposed feature, users will be allowed to communicate on WhatsApp without sharing their mobile phone numbers, providing an additional layer of privacy.