WhatsApp is defending its new “username” feature following a notice from the Indian government raising concerns about data privacy and security. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITy) expressed worries the feature could expose phone numbers and potentially lead to mass surveillance or fraud. WhatsApp states the feature enhances privacy by allowing users to control how others discover them on the platform, offering an alternative to sharing phone numbers. The company emphasizes usernames are optional and users can opt-out. They also highlight existing privacy settings that control who can see a user's profile photo, 'About' information, and status. The government seeks a detailed response from WhatsApp regarding the feature’s implications for user data protection and compliance with Indian regulations. This development underscores growing scrutiny of messaging app data handling practices in India.