Somalia Warns WhatsApp Username Feature Could Aid Criminals

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Mogadishu: Somalia has raised security concerns over WhatsApp’s planned feature that will allow users to chat using usernames instead of displaying their phone numbers.

The government says the change could make it harder to trace scammers, criminals and Islamist militants in a country where mobile money is widely used and al-Shabab has previously used WhatsApp for extortion and propaganda.

Communications and Technology Minister Ahmed Osman Dirie said anonymous or unverified usernames could increase the risk of financial fraud and make it more difficult to identify criminals. Somalia has asked Meta, which owns WhatsApp, for assurances that the feature will not weaken digital traceability.

WhatsApp says the feature is not yet live and users will still need a phone number to use the app. It also says safeguards against scams will be built into the system.

Somalia’s concerns follow similar objections from India, which has also warned that usernames could make fraud and impersonation easier.

Technology experts say the feature is designed to improve privacy but acknowledge that governments face a difficult balance between protecting users’ personal information and ensuring criminals can still be traced.