- The DoT emphasized that the move is intended to strengthen telecom security and prevent telecommunications identifiers from being abused for cross-border cybercrimes.
- Discussions with major service providers have been ongoing for months, but the ministry said the severity of the threat made it necessary to act now.
India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a major directive that could significantly change how popular messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram and others operate in the country.
Under the new rules, these platforms must implement mandatory SIM binding, ensuring their services function only when an active, registered SIM card is present on the user’s device.
According to the government, some communication apps currently allow users to access their accounts even when the associated SIM card is not inserted in the device—a feature that, officials say, is increasingly being exploited by cybercriminals operating from abroad.
“It has come to the notice of the Central Government that this feature is posing a challenge,” the official notification states, adding that its misuse has contributed to a rise in cyber fraud cases.
The DoT has warned that non-compliance will attract action under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, the Telecom Cyber Security Rules and other applicable laws.
What the New Rules Mean for Users
Under the revised framework, messaging apps will need to perform continuous SIM verification. If a device does not contain the registered SIM card, the app must immediately stop functioning.
For desktop and browser-based versions such as WhatsApp Web, the impact will be more noticeable: users must be automatically logged out and required to re-authenticate at least once every six hours.
This means millions of users accustomed to keeping WhatsApp Web open throughout the workday may soon need to re-login multiple times.
The DoT emphasized that the move is intended to strengthen telecom security and prevent telecommunications identifiers from being abused for cross-border cybercrimes.
Discussions with major service providers have been ongoing for months, but the ministry said the severity of the threat made it necessary to act now.
