The regulation of digital communication platforms in India is likely to take a new shape soon. It has been reported that the government is formulating a common policy framework that will make the guidelines for username-based features common in all messaging apps rather than having different guidelines for different platforms.
The policy framework was formulated as a response to privacy-focused features launched by messaging applications to connect users without disclosing their mobile phone number. However, the regulators feel that it is important to develop some measures for protecting the users against any kind of impersonation, cyber fraud, and misuse of such a feature.
Unlike the current regulatory regime, in which the regulatory authority evaluates different platforms separately, now, they have started considering the idea of formulating a regulatory framework applicable to all major messaging platforms operating in India.
These deliberations took place when the messaging companies introduced or proposed username-based identification in lieu of mobile numbers. The officials are studying how these systems vérify use to prevent the creation of fake profiles, and assist in investigations related to online scams and identity fraud.
In accordance with news reports, the Indian government has asked for elaborations from various messaging apps about their safety features and identity verification procedures. The idea behind this step is to learn how username-based communication could be enabled without posing new threats to the users.
This step indicates the increasing importance of improving the digital governance system in India, where communication through digital channels is becoming the order of the day. Considering millions of individuals using various messaging services daily, there is an increased need for a balance between innovation and accountability.
On the other hand, technology firms state that usernames are useful in safeguarding the privacy of users since they can communicate without sharing their personal contact numbers. They say that the new-age security solutions and abuse prevention methods ensure the same.
Regulatory experts feel that having one regulatory framework may help both users and the tech companies. Uniform guidelines would ensure that there is clarity regarding the implementation of new features by platforms, but at the same time, there are no compromises on the safety aspects.
India has become one of the biggest countries with respect to the usage of messaging apps, thereby making its decisions very relevant from the perspective of global tech companies. With the evolution of digital communications, the regulatory requirements are also likely to become more encompassing.
The proposed framework will certainly affect the manner in which the messaging apps will introduce their new features in India.
