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Sebi to leverage WhatsApp for AI-enabled safe investing awareness campaign

Markets regulator Sebi plans an AI-enabled multilingual WhatsApp campaign to spread verified safe investing information as part of its 2026-27 digital transformation agenda

Govt to question Meta on CSAM, WhatsApp username issue, account takedowns

Senior executives are likely to be questioned on child sexual abuse material, synthetic content, impersonation risks and safeguards for prominent and verified accounts

WhatsApp puts multiple accounts under review, blocks all app features

Instant messaging app WhatsApp on Monday put multiple accounts, including those in India, "under review" for 24 hours and blocked all the app features, prompting several affected users to flag the issue through social media. The disruption was noticed around 8 pm IST when users started facing the issue without any prior warning from the Meta group's messaging app. The WhatsApp app on the screen displayed the message: "Account in review. Date requested: 3 Aug 2026. Your account activity and device info is being checked to make sure it follows our terms of service. We will notify you of the result typically within 24 hours." Below these remarks, the app shows an option to learn about account issues, which include "How to use WhatsApp responsibly. See guidance" and an option "About stolen phone and accounts". Some of the users on social media posted different messages. "My WhatsApp account has been disabled without any explanation. I have already submitted an appeal, but the review p

Top Meta executive Joel Kaplan summoned over PM Modi post removal

The government has asked Meta's global affairs chief to appear in person after the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video, citing concerns over content moderation

Govt working on common standards for messaging platforms' username feature

The government is examining responses from WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram to develop a common framework for username-based identities and guard against fraud and impersonation

Govt plans common rules for messaging apps after WhatsApp username row

The move comes after the IT ministry asked WhatsApp to put its proposed username feature on hold, citing concerns over fraud, impersonation and law enforcement challenges

After WhatsApp, Telegram replies to govt notice on 'username' feature

The Centre had raised concerns that allowing users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers could materially increase online fraud, phishing, impersonation and digital arrest scams

WhatsApp submits reply on 'username' notice; govt examining response

Meta-owned WhatsApp has submitted its reply to the government's notice on the "username" feature and the response is being examined, sources said on Thursday. The Centre issued a notice to Meta last Wednesday, questioning the proposed username feature on WhatsApp, flagging concerns that it could materially increase incidents of online fraud, phishing, digital-arrest scams and impersonation attacks. The username feature essentially allows people on the messaging platform to communicate without sharing their phone numbers. The Centre had also directed the platform not to launch the feature until consultations on the issue were completed "to the satisfaction of the government". Subsequently, WhatsApp had sought some more time to submit its response on the "username" feature and assured the government that it would not roll it out in India until discussions were complete. The sources told PTI that WhatsApp's reply has indeed been received by the information technology ministry and the

WhatsApp's reply on 'username' feature due today: IT Secretary S Krishnan

Meta-owned WhatsApp's response to the government notice on the 'username' feature is due on Thursday, IT Secretary S Krishnan said. Last Wednesday, the Centre issued a notice to Meta questioning the proposed username feature on WhatsApp, flagging concerns that it could materially increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks. The username feature essentially allows people on the messaging platform to communicate without sharing their phone numbers. The government had also directed the platform not to launch the feature until consultations on the issue are completed "to the satisfaction of the Government". Subsequently, WhatsApp had sought some more time to submit its response on the 'username' feature and had assured the government that it would not roll it out in India until discussions are complete. "Today is the day when the reply is due," Krishnan said on the sidelines of the CII GCC Business Summit, when asked about WhatsApp's response to th

Removed 160K India accounts in 2025 over child exploitative content: Meta

Meta said it removed 160,000 accounts linked to suspected child exploitation and over four million suspicious accounts across Facebook and Instagram

After India, Somalia raises concerns over WhatsApp username feature

Last week, India asked Meta to delay the rollout of the new feature, citing fears that it may fuel online fraud

Names without numbers: India must set the terms for WhatsApp usernames

For 17 years, your Wha­t­s­App identity was your phone number. from this week, your identity can be a handle - issued and controlled by Meta

WhatsApp gets more time to reply to username notice; India rollout on hold

The Meta-owned messaging platform has received an additional three days to respond to a government notice seeking clarification on the feature

Meta team meets IT Ministry over username feature, to reply within 3 days

The Centre directed WhatsApp to keep the rollout on hold until consultations are completed "to the satisfaction of the Government"

How flight tickets, food orders helped Sebi crack a ₹144 crore stock scam

Sebi's 394-page order exposes a 226-entity pump-and-dump network across five stocks, busted not just by bank records but also by airline bookings, hotel stays, WhatsApp chats,

WhatsApp's username feature under govt scanner; Meta issues clarifications on safeguards

The Centre has asked Meta to pause the rollout of WhatsApp's new username feature in India over concerns that it could be misused for impersonation and online scams.

Username row: After WhatsApp, IT Ministry sends notices to Telegram, Signal

After sending a notice to WhatsApp, the IT Ministry has now sent a notice to Telegram and Signal, raising questions on their existing username feature and asking how the platforms are addressing concerns related to fraud and impersonation, according to a source. Sources said that in the notice to Telegram, the government has asked the platform why it should be allowed to retain the username feature. On Wednesday, the Centre issued a notice to Meta over the username feature on WhatsApp, citing concerns that it could materially increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks. It had also directed WhatsApp to pause the feature until consultations on the issue are completed "to the satisfaction of the Government". The government has now widened its scrutiny to other messaging platforms as well, sources said. Sources told PTI that the IT ministry has also written to Telegram and Signal - which already have the username feature - and asked how concerns .

WhatsApp usernames rollout under scanner: What the govt is worried about

Meity has asked WhatsApp to halt its new usernames feature over impersonation and fraud concerns, while the Internet Freedom Foundation questions whether the government has the power to do so

WhatsApp issues FAQs on username feature amid government scrutiny

Meta-owned WhatsApp has come out with a detailed set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the controversial username feature, outlining details on how it plans to address concerns around impersonation, scams and unwanted contact as users begin reserving usernames. The FAQs come amid the Centre's notice to Meta flagging concerns over potential fraud and impersonation risks, and warning against a roll out of the feature till consultations on the issue are completed "to the satisfaction of the government". Put simply, the new feature will allow users to create unique usernames that can be used for connecting on WhatsApp without sharing phone numbers. The FAQs say usernames will be optional, cannot be searched by strangers, and that users can add an additional 'username key' requiring both the username and the key before someone can contact them. WhatsApp said well-known names, including those of public figures, celebrities, government entities and Meta-verified accounts, have been

Govt asks WhatsApp not to roll out username feature over fraud risks

The ministry is examining WhatsApp's new usernames feature over concerns related to impersonation, fraud and online scams, while Meta says it has built multiple safeguards against abuse