Algeria Warns Meta Over Anonymous WhatsApp Accounts

Algeria has formally warned Meta over the use of anonymous accounts on WhatsApp, as authorities step up scrutiny of the messaging platform’s new username functionality. The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications said Monday, August 10, that it had officially contacted the US technology giant to express its concerns over the activation of the feature in Algeria.

The move comes as WhatsApp continues to expand the use of usernames, a feature designed to allow users to communicate without necessarily revealing their personal phone numbers to other users. For Algerian authorities, however, the introduction of the feature raises questions about digital accountability, fraud prevention and the ability to identify accounts operating on the platform.

In a statement, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications said it was closely monitoring the activation of the “Usernames” feature on WhatsApp in Algeria. The ministry explained that the functionality allows users to register and communicate without disclosing their telephone numbers.

Rather than demanding that Meta abandon the feature altogether, Algerian authorities said they have no objection to usernames in principle. The ministry specifically indicated that it does not oppose the functionality from either a security or user-experience perspective, provided that its implementation remains compatible with existing requirements in Algeria.

The key demand concerns the underlying identification of WhatsApp accounts.

Algeria wants every WhatsApp account tied to a valid local number

According to the ministry, every WhatsApp account that is active or activated in Algeria should remain associated with a valid mobile telephone number registered with an Algerian mobile operator.

The distinction is important. Under the username system, users can potentially communicate through a chosen digital identifier rather than directly sharing their phone number with other people. While this can offer greater privacy in everyday interactions, Algerian authorities want the account itself to remain technically connected to a verified mobile number.

The ministry therefore asked Meta to provide a written response confirming that every WhatsApp account used in Algeria remains linked to a valid and verified telephone number.

It also wants the company to confirm that it will not allow the creation or management of accounts based exclusively on usernames without any connection to a verified phone number.

The request places the emphasis on accountability rather than on eliminating usernames as a communication tool. In other words, Algeria appears prepared to accept the privacy benefits of the feature while insisting that anonymity toward other users should not translate into complete anonymity toward the underlying account-registration system.

Meta asked for a specific plan for Algeria

The Algerian Ministry of Post and Telecommunications has also asked Meta to provide a precise implementation plan, including a timetable, for any technical adjustments required specifically for the Algerian market.

The ministry described such a request as “necessary and proportionate,” arguing that it would not interfere with users’ privacy or undermine WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption.

That distinction is central to the Algerian position. The authorities say their objective is not to weaken the encryption protecting private communications, but rather to ensure that accounts operating on the platform retain a verified connection to a legitimate mobile number.

The ministry framed the request as part of a broader effort to strengthen what it described as “digital trust and accountability.”

According to the authorities, maintaining a verified link between a WhatsApp account and a mobile number could help prevent several types of online abuse, including fraud, identity theft and cybercrime.

Privacy versus accountability

The debate reflects a broader tension surrounding the evolution of online communication platforms. Username-based systems can provide users with an additional layer of privacy because people can communicate without immediately exposing their personal telephone numbers.

At the same time, governments increasingly argue that digital platforms must retain mechanisms allowing accounts to be associated with verifiable identities or contact information, particularly when those platforms are used on a massive scale.

WhatsApp’s username functionality is therefore becoming more than a simple product feature in Algeria. Its implementation has become a regulatory issue involving privacy, cybersecurity, telecommunications and digital responsibility.

For Algerian authorities, the principle is apparently straightforward: users should be able to benefit from the convenience and privacy of usernames, but every account operating in the country should still have a valid and verified mobile connection behind it.

The ministry said its demands are consistent with Algerian legislation currently in force. It also emphasized that the objective is to contribute to the prevention of fraud, identity theft and cybercrime while preserving users’ privacy and the security provided by end-to-end encryption.

Meta’s response to the Algerian government’s formal request was not included in the information released by the ministry.

The dispute could ultimately become an important test of how global messaging platforms adapt their privacy-oriented features to national regulatory frameworks. As usernames become increasingly common across digital services, governments and technology companies are likely to face similar questions over where the line should be drawn between user privacy and account accountability.

For Algeria, the position communicated on Monday is clear: WhatsApp usernames may be used, but the government wants every account operating in the country to remain connected to a valid, verified mobile number registered with an Algerian operator.