India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology extends its review of messaging app “username” features by issuing notices to Telegram and Signal, sources cited by multiple outlets say. The action follows an earlier step targeting WhatsApp, where the government asked Meta to pause the rollout of usernames in India while consultations proceed. The notices focus on potential misuse risks, particularly increased online fraud, phishing, “digital arrest” scams, and impersonation attacks, especially because usernames can allow messaging without sharing phone numbers. Reports say the government asks Telegram and Signal to explain why their username features should be permitted and how they mitigate fraud and impersonation concerns, including any safeguards that limit unwanted contact or account misuse. Telegram and Signal did not immediately comment in some reports. Separately, an industry-linked outlet notes that the ministry is also reviewing whether a uniform regulatory framework may be needed across messaging platforms for username-based identities, given that existing intermediary rules do not specifically address product-level features such as usernames. Some coverage also mentions WhatsApp previously defended its feature with built-in safeguards, and that a homegrown messaging service stated it would disable username functionality to comply with the evolving regulatory direction.