Hand holding smartphone displaying messaging app in a public space in India
India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is developing a set of uniform standards for all messaging applications operating within the country. This initiative aims to establish a regulatory framework that allows for the blocking of specific features across platforms without requiring individual notices, thereby tightening government oversight.
The move comes as MeitY scrutinizes WhatsApp’s recently introduced username feature, which enables users to communicate without revealing their phone numbers. While Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, asserts that this feature enhances privacy and reduces the risk of phone number harvesting, the Indian government has expressed safety concerns and has already halted the feature’s rollout for the platform.
Similar notices have been issued to other messaging services, including Telegram and Signal, prompting some companies to preemptively adjust their services. Zoho, for instance, has disabled the username feature on its Arattai messaging app to comply with the government’s directives.
The government’s primary contention is that the username feature could facilitate impersonation and complicate investigations by allowing users to hide their phone numbers. Officials fear that this anonymity could be exploited by scammers for phishing, financial fraud, and other illicit activities. MeitY plans to consult with all messaging platforms before finalizing the new regulations.
In parallel news, GoKwik, an e-commerce enablement platform, has reportedly laid off approximately 100-120 employees as part of a restructuring exercise. This move is attributed to an increased focus on automating operations, with the layoffs primarily affecting customer onboarding and tech teams. Founded in 2020, GoKwik has raised over $68 million to date from investors including Z47 and Peak XV.
The article also briefly touches upon the weekly funding landscape for Indian startups, which saw a dip in capital raised compared to the previous week, and highlights the mixed performance of new-age tech stocks. Additionally, it features a startup spotlight on Speedioo, a platform aiming to organize India’s used two-wheeler market, and notes a report on the growing influence of teenagers in India’s beauty market.
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