索马里政府对WhatsApp推出基于用户名而非电话号码的聊天功能表示严重关切，认为这会削弱其执法能力。1索马里通讯技术部长Ahmed Osman Dirie表示该功能"可能对安全构成风险"，并指出"转向用户名而远离电话号码，我们相信会使我们更难以应对这些犯罪"。1
该功能预计在未来几个月内向全球30亿WhatsApp用户推出。1索马里政府已就此向Meta提出关切，Dirie表示"希望我们很快就能就此事达成解决方案"。1他进一步要求Meta证明隐藏电话号码不会"侵蚀数字可追溯性"，并提供"特定保障"防范金融欺诈。1
索马里的担忧背景在于，该国正与基地组织附属武装组织al-Shabab进行对抗。12024年，索马里情报部门称已关闭20个alleged由al-Shabab运营的WhatsApp群组，禁用了约2,500个与其关联的电话号码。1
印度也对该功能提出了类似的关注。1作为WhatsApp最大市场，拥有超过8.5亿用户，印度表示用户名可能增加诈骗、冒充和犯罪的风险。1
对此，WhatsApp回应称该功能尚未上线，用户仍需电话号码使用该应用，且该功能内置了防诈骗保障。1
Somalia's government has expressed serious alarm over WhatsApp's plan to introduce a username-based messaging feature, warning that it could undermine law enforcement's ability to track and combat criminal activity. Communications Technology Minister Ahmed Osman Dirie stated the feature "may pose a risk to security" 1 and cautioned that "moving towards usernames and away from phone numbers, we believe will make it harder for us to deal with these crimes." 1
The new functionality, set to roll out globally to WhatsApp's 3 billion users within the coming months 1, would allow users to communicate using usernames rather than phone numbers. Somalia's concerns center on its ongoing fight against al-Shabab, the al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group. In 2024, the country's intelligence agency reported shutting down 20 WhatsApp groups allegedly operated by al-Shabab and disabling approximately 2,500 associated phone numbers 1.
Dirie has called on Meta to demonstrate that obscuring phone numbers will not "erode digital traceability" and to provide "specific safeguards" against financial fraud 1. The government has already raised its concerns with Meta and expressed hope that "we can reach a solution on this matter very soon." 1
WhatsApp has responded by clarifying that the feature is not yet live and that users will still need a phone number to use the application 1. The company also noted that the feature includes built-in anti-fraud protections 1.
Somalia is not alone in its concerns. India, which hosts over 850 million WhatsApp users—the platform's largest market—has similarly warned that usernames could increase fraud, impersonation, and other criminal activity 1.
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