As WhatsApp faces heightened scrutiny over its new Username feature, Zoho-owned homegrown messaging app Arattai has preemptively disabled the same functionality to comply with a regulatory change. The move highlights growing tensions between digital platforms and government oversight in India, particularly regarding user identification and security.
The Regulatory Intervention
According to a report by The Hindu BusinessLine, the Indian government, through the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), sent notices to WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram regarding their username features. The notice directed these companies not to roll out the feature until “consultation on this point is achieved to the satisfaction of the Government.” The exact scope and legal basis of the notice remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether Zoho received a similar notice or acted voluntarily.
Arattai's Compliance and Historical Context
Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu announced on X (formerly Twitter): “We will be disabling the user name based account feature in Arattai, to comply with the regulatory change.” Vembu later told The Hindu BusinessLine that Arattai had offered the username feature even before WhatsApp, and that it was strictly an opt-in configuration used as a utility tool. “We have had the feature even before WhatsApp. So the writing on the wall was clear,” he said. This suggests that Arattai's decision was proactive, likely influenced by the broader regulatory environment.
Interestingly, other messaging apps including Signal and Telegram also offer username features, but neither had disabled theirs at the time of reporting. Signal did not respond to BusinessLine's queries. WhatsApp, which has over 500 million users in India, also issued an FAQ addressing concerns around impersonation, scams, and unwanted contact.
Industry and Advocacy Response
The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) , a digital advocacy organisation, strongly criticised the government's notice. In a statement on Thursday, the IFF said: “It is an attempt by the executive to decide what a company may build and ship, which no statute permits.” The IFF raised concerns that the notice has no clear basis in law, potentially setting a precedent for executive overreach into product features.
| App | Username Feature Status | Government Notice Received? |
|---|---|---|
| Arattai | Disabled voluntarily | Not confirmed, but cited regulatory change |
| Not rolled out yet | Yes, directed not to roll out | |
| Signal | Active (as of report) | Yes |
| Telegram | Active (as of report) | Yes |
The table above summarises the current status. The timing of Arattai's withdrawal coincides with the government's move, raising questions about the scope of compliance.
Implications for Enterprise Messaging
For enterprise technology leaders evaluating messaging platforms for internal or external communication, this development underscores the regulatory risks associated with third-party apps operating in India. Zoho, known for its suite of business software, offers Arattai as a secure messaging alternative. However, the sudden removal of a feature—especially one used for privacy (usernames allow users to be contacted without sharing phone numbers)—could affect user trust and adoption.
Enterprise buyers should note that regulatory actions can directly impact product roadmaps. The incident also highlights the importance of understanding local data and communication laws when deploying collaboration tools. While Arattai's compliance may be seen as prudent, critics like the IFF argue that such government interventions lack legal foundation and could stifle innovation.
As the consultation process unfolds, companies may need to build more flexibility into their compliance strategies, preparing for sudden feature withdrawals or modifications. The outcome of this standoff between the Indian government and major messaging platforms could set precedents for digital governance in one of the world's largest internet markets.
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