WhatsApp, Telegram users to face new SIM-binding rules

New Delhi: India’s SIM-binding rules for messaging apps are expected to take effect on January 1, 2027, after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) extended the compliance deadline to December 31, 2026. The measure requires covered platforms to link accounts to the active SIM used for registration, as per a notification from the department.

The DoT’s original directions, issued on November 28, 2025, named WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, Arattai, ShareChat, Josh, JioChat and Signal. However, a report published October 22 said Snapchat may be exempt, pending official confirmation. Signal’s compliance status was also described as unclear, so these should be identified as apps named in the original order, not necessarily as platforms whose current status is unchanged.

Under SIM binding, the registered SIM must remain active and present in the device running the messaging app. Users who remove that SIM or switch to another phone may experience access interruptions. The rule could also affect people using linked devices, tablets or computers, depending on how platforms implement verification.

The government says the measure is intended to curb cyber fraud involving Indian mobile numbers, including impersonation, phishing, investment scams and digital-arrest frauds. It argues that accounts remaining active after a SIM is removed or deactivated can be misused remotely, making offenders harder to trace.

The earlier requirement for messaging-app web sessions to log users out every six hours has reportedly been withdrawn. Instead, web sessions are expected to be logged out based on risk analysis.

WhatsApp’s SIM-binding feature was reported to be in beta testing on Android earlier this year. The experience will depend on each platform’s implementation and further DoT directions.