Amid the rapid digitalisation of public services, competitive examinations and government welfare programmes, the Central Government has made it clear that messaging platforms will be held accountable if newly introduced features become tools for cyber fraud or other digital crimes. Officials said cybersecurity remains one of the government’s highest priorities, while emphasising that no digital system can ever be considered permanently or completely secure.
Government officials noted that as India’s digital infrastructure continues to expand, the increasing centralisation of data has also heightened the risk of cyberattacks. They stressed that cybersecurity should not be treated as an afterthought but must be integrated into digital systems from the design stage itself to minimise vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience against evolving cyber threats.
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The government’s remarks come against the backdrop of recent concerns involving public digital infrastructure, including the temporary restrictions imposed on Telegram during the NEET-UG re-examination. During that period, the platform’s message-editing feature was also temporarily disabled to prevent fraudsters from fabricating and circulating false paper leak claims. Officials said such measures were aimed at preventing the misuse of digital platforms to spread misinformation and facilitate cyber-enabled fraud.
Responding to concerns over WhatsApp’s proposed username feature, government officials said any new functionality that enables impersonation, fraud or cybercrime will attract accountability from the platform itself. They stated that if usernames, edited messages, fake groups, impersonation or similar features are misused for fraudulent activities, the government will take calibrated but firm action. According to officials, technology companies must ensure that the architecture of their platforms cannot be exploited by cyber criminals or other malicious actors.
WhatsApp, however, defended its proposed username feature, saying its objective is to enhance user privacy rather than weaken security. The company stated that multiple safeguards have been built into the feature, including systems to detect impersonation and abuse, limits on how many new people an account can contact through usernames, restrictions on repeated attempts to guess usernames and protection of high-value usernames belonging to public figures, government entities and other prominent organisations to prevent misuse.
Government officials, however, maintained that platforms will ultimately be judged by real-world outcomes rather than assurances. If any feature contributes to an increase in cybercrime or causes harm to users, the responsibility will rest with the platform, and appropriate action will be taken wherever necessary.
Officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said the government is deploying both skilled personnel and advanced technological resources to strengthen the country’s cyber defence ecosystem. At the same time, they cautioned that weak passwords, insecure devices, careless online behaviour and poor endpoint security continue to remain among the biggest vulnerabilities exploited by cyber criminals.
Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said new digital features can improve user convenience, but without adequate security safeguards they can also become attractive tools for cyber criminals. He noted that cyber frauds based on social engineering, impersonation and identity deception are evolving rapidly, making it essential for technology companies to conduct comprehensive security assessments before rolling out new features. He also advised users to verify suspicious messages, usernames, links and online identities before interacting with them or sharing personal information. In case of suspected cyber fraud, he urged people to immediately report the incident through the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, as prompt reporting significantly improves the chances of preventing financial losses and tracing the offenders.
