India Widens Username Crackdown to Telegram and Signal
July 3, 2026 - 9:40 am
A government source reveals that the IT ministry has sent official notices to both Telegram and Signal, following a similar move against WhatsApp a day earlier.
The ministry expresses concerns about the messaging apps' username features, raising questions regarding fraud and impersonation risks associated with them. Unlike WhatsApp, no specific deadline for a response from Telegram and Signal has been reported.
According to a source, the notices request both companies to explain their reasoning for allowing users to communicate via chosen usernames instead of phone numbers and detail their measures against potential fraudulent activities.
This latest development echoes Indian regulators' ongoing concern about anonymity-related features on messaging platforms, which they argue hinder efforts to combat fraud, phishing, and "digital arrest scams."
The ministry's toolkit for such disputes relies on the safe harbour provisions of the IT Act and intermediary rules, though the application of these regulations to usernames remains a point of contention.
The Internet Freedom Foundation, in response to the WhatsApp notice, questioned the ministry's use of Section 79 of the IT Act to control app design rather than policing. It remains to be seen if this critique extends to Telegram and Signal.
Telegram's recent history with Indian regulators includes a nationwide block for about a week in June 2022 due to its alleged role in facilitating the sale of leaked exam papers. The app challenged this block successfully in the Delhi High Court, but government submissions at the time highlighted usernames as an obstacle to law enforcement.
In contrast, Signal has faced relatively little regulatory scrutiny in India until now, making its inclusion in this round of notices noteworthy. Signal's stringent privacy design, which minimizes user data collection, could be a factor in its current situation.
While Telegram has had a tumultuous relationship with Indian regulators, Signal, known for its robust privacy features, has until now escaped significant scrutiny. This change in focus highlights the evolving landscape of digital regulation in India, where privacy and anonymity are increasingly being balanced against concerns over fraud and impersonation. Both apps have been given official notices, requesting details on their username policies and anti-fraud measures. Unlike WhatsApp, no immediate response deadline has been set. This development underscores the complexities of regulating messaging platforms, particularly as they adapt to evolving user demands for privacy and security. Somalia backs India’s objection to WhatsApp’s username switch