IndiaThe Indian government's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is preparing to issue notices to messaging apps Telegram and Signal regarding their username-based communication features, following a similar notice issued to WhatsApp. The decision comes after these apps began allowing users to reserve usernames ahead of a planned year-end launch. MeitY argues that such features increase risks of impersonation, identity theft, and digital fraud by hiding phone numbers behind usernames. Officials expressed particular concern about WhatsApp due to its massive user base and trusted status, suggesting the feature might also be a competitive move against Telegram. WhatsApp has stated it will roll out the feature gradually and has withheld usernames resembling public figures. Meanwhile, another messaging app, Arattai, has announced it will disable its username feature to comply with regulatory changes.
Bias read (Center): While the article discusses government action against messaging apps, it presents both the government's concerns and the companies' responses without overtly favoring either side. It includes quotes from officials and company spokespeople, providing balanced perspectives. The framing does not show a
