WhatsApp's plan to introduce usernames has sparked security concerns in Somalia, where the government is worried it could hinder the country's efforts to counter terrorism and financial fraud. The new feature, set to be rolled out to three billion global users, allows people to chat using usernames rather than phone numbers, making it harder to track and identify users. Somalia's Communications and Technology Minister, Ahmed Osman Dirie, expressed concerns that the feature could undermine the country's ability to regulate phone numbers and track down criminals.
Dirie pointed out that Somalia has a unique context, with an economy that heavily relies on mobile money transactions, making it vulnerable to financial fraud. He also highlighted that al-Shabab militants have been known to use WhatsApp for their operations, including extortion and propaganda. The Somali government has approached Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, about its concerns and is seeking further assurances on the feature's impact on security.
India has also raised similar concerns about the feature, citing the potential for increased online fraud and impersonation. WhatsApp has maintained that the feature comes with built-in safeguards against scams, but Somalia's government remains unconvinced.
According to technology blogger Moses Kemibaro, WhatsApp's new feature aims to enhance user privacy, but countries like Somalia have valid concerns about its impact on security. Meta needs to explain the implications of the changes, including whether regulators can link crimes committed by a username to a person behind it, Kemibaro adds.