Meta Platforms has defended the introduction of usernames on its messaging platform after the Indian government warned on Wednesday that the feature could contribute to an increase in cybercrime.

“Users still require a phone number to use WhatsApp, and we’ve built multiple layers of defense against scams into usernames,” a Meta spokesperson stated, according to CNBC.

The company said it will introduce safeguards, including limiting the number of new people an account can contact, blocking repeated attempts to guess usernames, and using automated systems to detect and remove activity that shows common patterns of impersonation and other abusive behaviour.

It added that the username feature has not yet gone live and will be rolled out gradually later this year.

On Monday, WhatsApp announced the introduction of usernames, describing them as a major privacy feature that allows users to connect without having to share their phone numbers.

According to a report by Indian news agency ANI, the Indian government warned that the username feature could significantly increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks by making it easier for malicious actors to contact and deceive potential victims.

The government has given WhatsApp three days to provide a detailed explanation of the feature or risk action under India’s information technology regulations. It also directed the company to suspend the rollout until its concerns have been adequately addressed.