Fraud Fears Over New WhatsApp Usernames

WhatsApp's plan to let people communicate without revealing their phone numbers has run into immediate regulatory opposition in India, turning what began as a new privacy feature into a much wider debate about online anonymity, fraud and how messaging platforms should balance privacy with security.

Give Your Username Instead Of Your Phone Number

WhatsApp has begun allowing users to reserve unique usernames ahead of a wider rollout planned for later this year. The idea is that, under a new system, WhatsApp users will be able to give someone a username instead of their mobile phone number, meaning they can communicate without revealing the number connected to their account.