Techbytes: Somalia raises security concerns over WhatsApp username feature

Somalia has expressed concern over WhatsApp’s planned introduction of usernames, warning that the feature could make it harder for authorities to trace criminals and combat online fraud. Communications and Technology Minister, Ahmed Osman Dirie, said the government had raised the issue with Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, arguing that the feature could undermine efforts to tackle terrorism and financial crime in a country still battling the al-Shabab insurgency. The planned update, according toBBC, expected to roll out to WhatsApp’s three billion users in the coming months, will allow people to communicate using usernames instead of sharing their phone numbers.

Users will also be able to change or remove their usernames. Dirie said Somalia’s concerns stem from the country’s reliance on mobile phone numbers for digital identity and mobile money transactions. “So moving away from phone numbers to usernames, we believe, will make it difficult for us to counter those crimes,” he said.

He warned that unverified usernames could create opportunities for fraudsters and make it more difficult for security agencies to identify individuals involved in criminal activities. Somalia has been fighting the al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabab for more than two decades, with the group known to use digital platforms for propaganda, extortion and communication. In 2024, Somalia’s intelligence agency said it shut down 20 WhatsApp groups allegedly operated by al-Shabab and disabled data services linked to about 2,500 phone numbers associated with the network.

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Dirie said the government wanted assurances that the new feature would not weaken digital traceability or increase the risk of cybercrime. “We hope we’ll reach a resolution on this matter very soon,” he said, adding that Meta should demonstrate that adequate safeguards are in place before the feature is introduced. In response, WhatsApp told the BBC that the username feature has not yet been launched and stressed that users will still need a phone number to create and use a WhatsApp account.

The company also said the feature will include built-in protections against scams and abuse. Somalia’s concerns mirror those raised by India, WhatsApp’s largest market with more than 850 million users. Indian authorities have also urged Meta to delay the rollout, citing fears that usernames could facilitate fraud, impersonation and other online crimes by allowing users to conceal their phone numbers.

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