WhatsApp reserves high-profile usernames ahead of privacy feature rollout, Singapore leaders’ names blocked
Checks found that usernames corresponding to the names of some Singapore political leaders, including @LawrenceWong and @KShanmugam could not be registered.
WhatsApp’s new username feature being rolled out. (Photo: CNA/Shadma Shaikh)
New: You can now listen to articles.
This audio is generated by an AI tool.
Read a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST
Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
SINGAPORE: Meta-owned messenger WhatsApp has reserved high-profile usernames, including those of public figures and government entities, ahead of the rollout of its new username feature, a privacy measure that will allow users to connect without sharing their phone numbers.
The move aims to prevent impersonation so that such usernames can be claimed only by their legitimate owners. Lookalike derivatives of known names have been held as well, said WhatsApp in response to queries from CNA on Saturday (Jul 11).
Checks by CNA found that usernames such as @LawrenceWong, @KShanmugam, @OngYeKung and @VivianBalakrishnan have been blocked. They match the names of Singapore’s Prime Minister, Home Affairs Minister, Health Minister and Foreign Minister, respectively.
Variations of these names have also been reserved. Checked showed that @LawrenceWong_ and @LawrenceWong1 are also not available.
Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time
Buzzword
Create words using the given letters
Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser
Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge
Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
WhatsApp announced last month that it would introduce usernames in gradual updates worldwide, allowing users to message others without sharing phone numbers.
Users can reserve their preferred username on WhatsApp before the new feature launches and will be notified when it is available in their countries.
“When it becomes available and someone sends you a message for the first time via your username, we will show you if they’re a new account, if they’re your contact, if you have groups in common, and if they’re based in a different country, so you can decide whether to respond,” said WhatsApp on Saturday.
It added that users will still need a phone number to use WhatsApp and that the recipient’s exact username is needed to message.
The platform will also limit the number of new people an account can contact, block repeated attempts to guess usernames and use systems to detect and remove activity associated with impersonation and abuse patterns.
In India, the username feature has raised concerns that it could make scams more convincing.
Indian authorities have asked Meta to pause the feature’s rollout and explain the measures it will take to prevent fraud and impersonation.
According to India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Indians reported losses of 224.95 billion rupees (US$2.3 billion) to cyber fraud in 2025. The number of complaints rose about 24 per cent year-on-year to 2.4 million.
Source: CNA/dc
Sign up for our newsletters
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST
Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
About The Author
