New Delhi: After receiving the notice from the government, WhatsApp has given clarification regarding its new username feature. The company says that the purpose of this feature is to increase the privacy of users and it will be launched with many security measures. At present this feature is not available for everyone and it will be released in a phased manner by the end of this year.
According to WhatsApp, even after the introduction of the username feature, mobile number will remain necessary to create a new account. Additionally, specific usernames associated with public figures, government institutions and verified Meta accounts will be reserved for their rightful owners to reduce the risk of fake identities and fraud.
The company also said that additional information will be shown about users sending messages for the first time. New security systems will also be added to identify suspicious activities and objectionable behavior.
The government fears that if people will be able to contact only through username instead of mobile number, then some people may mislead others by creating fake identities. For this reason, the government has asked Meta to clarify within three days how this feature will work and what arrangements have been made for the safety of the users.
After this new update, users will be able to chat with other people without sharing their mobile number. This will improve privacy especially during group chats and conversations with new contacts. The company has also started the process of reserving preferred username for some users.
The option to set a username will be found in the account section of WhatsApp’s settings. The app will also provide a suggestion tool that will help in choosing an available and unique username.
WhatsApp has clarified that no public directory of usernames will be created. To start a conversation with a person, it will be necessary to know his correct username. Other than this "of username" An additional security option called Name will also be provided, through which users will be able to decide who can send them messages. The company says that the purpose of the new feature is to give more privacy to the users, while adequate arrangements will also be made for security and control of fake accounts.
