Algeria has urged WhatsApp owner, Meta, to ensure that the messaging app used in the country remains linked to valid mobile numbers in the country. This is coming as WhatsApp prepares to introduce usernames that allow people to communicate without revealing their phone numbers.
Algeria’s Ministry of Post and Telecommunications sent a formal notice to Meta on August 10 over concerns that the new ‘Usernames’ feature could weaken the traceability of active accounts in the country.
WhatsApp announced the feature on June 29, with a full rollout expected later in 2026. It will allow users to communicate through a username without exposing their phone number to other users.
While the ministry said it does not oppose the feature, it however wants every WhatsApp account used in Algeria to remain linked to a valid mobile number registered with an Algerian operator. Registering a SIM card in Algeria requires identification, which allows a phone number to be associated with the declared identity of its holder. Algerian authorities want to preserve that ability to identify account holders regardless of the username displayed publicly.
The ministry has requested written confirmation from Meta, a ban on accounts that rely solely on usernames without an associated Algerian number, and a timetable for implementing the requirement.
Algeria is not the first country to raise concerns about the feature. On July 1, the Indian government became the first to send Meta a formal notice over WhatsApp usernames and requested a temporary suspension of the feature. India’s Ministry of Information Technology cited similar concerns, including fraud, phishing, identity theft and the potential loss of account traceability.
WhatsApp responded that safeguards had been built into the feature from the outset. These include automatically reserving usernames for public figures, government institutions and verified accounts. The company also said that creating an account would still require a valid phone number. The feature has not yet been fully rolled out. For now, users can only reserve a username.
