The “username” feature that Meta was planning to roll out soon, has been put on hold. In a notice to Meta, the government has asked that it furnish a detailed explanation on the “usernames” feature within three days. Until consultation on the matter is over, the feature cannot be rolled out, the government has directed. Sources said officials are examining whether the feature could be exploited by cybercriminals to impersonate government departments, public officials, banks and other trusted institutions. Authorities are also assessing its impact on tracing individuals involved in cybercrime and financial fraud.