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MeitY-Meta WhatsApp Scam Risk: Discussions between the Central Government and Meta regarding WhatsApp's username feature have reached a critical juncture. A Meta team met with officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY); while the government detailed its security concerns regarding the feature, Meta was given three days to submit a final, comprehensive response.

**Key meeting between the company and government officials**
According to sources, a Meta team met with MeitY officials today (Friday) to discuss WhatsApp's username feature. During the meeting, the Ministry outlined the specific aspects of the feature that raised concerns and requested a detailed explanation from the company.

**Final response required within three days**
The government has granted Meta a three-day window to provide a detailed response regarding the feature. The company is expected to present its final position to the Ministry within this timeframe, after which the government may decide on the next course of action.

**What is the government's primary concern?**
The Central Government believes that if the username feature is implemented without adequate safeguards, it could lead to a rise in cybercrimes such as online fraud, phishing, "digital arrest" scams, and impersonation. The government insists that all security measures be clearly defined and user safety ensured before the feature is launched.

**Notice already issued**
The Central Government had previously issued an official notice to Meta raising questions about the proposed username feature. The notice asked why action should not be taken against the company under the Information Technology (IT) Act and relevant rules if the feature leads to an increase in cybercrimes.

**What instructions did the government give to Meta?**
The government instructed Meta not to implement the username feature until discussions on the matter had concluded to the government's satisfaction. Essentially, the government is closely monitoring the rollout of this feature. Furthermore, the government reminded Meta that WhatsApp is a significant social media intermediary. As such, the company bears a legal responsibility to observe due diligence and ensure user safety under the IT Act and IT Rules.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.