WhatsApp’s New Username Feature Sparks Security Worries in Somalia

Sun Sep 06 2026 12:43:03 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Somalia’s tech minister fears the change will let terror groups hide and increase scams, challenging the country’s fight against al‑Shabab.

WhatsApp plans to let users hide their phone numbers and chat by unique usernames, but Somalia’s Communications Minister Ahmed Osman Dirie warns it could give al‑Shabab fighters a loophole. He argues the move would make it harder to track criminals and could boost financial fraud. WhatsApp says it will keep safeguards and still require a phone number for registration, but Somali officials want more guarantees. The debate mirrors similar concerns in India, where the government also asks Meta to pause the rollout until security measures are clear. Experts say a balance between user privacy and national security is needed, but Somalia’s unique mobile‑money economy makes the issue urgent.

WhatsApp’s New Username Feature Sparks Security Worries in Somalia

WhatsApp wants to let people send messages using a special name instead of their phone number. Somalia’s tech minister says that move could help al‑Shabab fighters hide. It could also boost scams because users can’t be traced after a chat.

The minister said Somalia has a huge mobile‑money economy and that the new feature could make it tricky to stop criminals. He said the country's intelligence agency has shut down dozens of WhatsApp groups used by terrorists for extortion.

WhatsApp replied that it is still testing the feature and that users will need a phone number to sign up. They also say it will put safety measures against fraud.

Both Somalia and India, Africa’s biggest market for the app, want Meta to pause rollout until the safety measures are clear. Somalia wants guarantees that phone numbers can still be linked to usernames for law‑enforcement purposes.

Could the change actually protect privacy but also let bad actors slip past security? That’s the question authorities are asking right now.