Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 5 hrs ago
India to require active SIMs for messaging apps from January 2027
India’s Department of Telecommunications has set January 1, 2027, for SIM-binding rules to take effect on covered messaging apps.
Services including WhatsApp and Telegram must remain linked to the active SIM associated with a user’s registered mobile number.
The government says scammers have used Indian numbers to commit fraud from outside the country, including phishing and impersonation scams.
Under the rule, apps may stop working if the registered SIM is not in the phone.
The change could affect people who use these apps over Wi-Fi without their registered SIM, switch SIMs often or use multiple devices.
Web versions must log users out periodically, with guidance specifying no later than every six hours, and allow users to reconnect by QR code.
Platforms have until December 31, 2026, to comply; how they handle eSIMs and access across devices remains unclear.
India will require covered messaging apps to remain linked to the active SIM associated with each user’s registered mobile number from January 1, 2027.
The Department of Telecommunications set December 31, 2026, as the deadline for platforms to comply.
The requirement could stop apps from working if the registered SIM is removed, replaced or deactivated.
The government says the measure is intended to curb cyber fraud using Indian mobile numbers and strengthen telecom security.
The rules also require web versions of apps to log users out periodically, no later than every six hours, with QR-code relinking available.
- Who
- India’s Department of Telecommunications and providers of covered messaging apps, including WhatsApp and Telegram.
- What
- Apps must remain linked to the active SIM associated with a user’s registered number.
- When
- The mandate is to take effect on January 1, 2027; platforms must comply by December 31, 2026.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The government says the measure is intended to curb cyber fraud, phishing and digital arrest scams using Indian mobile numbers.
Department of Telecommunications
Snapchat
Applicability
Department of Telecommunications
The department’s directions name Snapchat among the covered app-based communication services.
Snapchat
Snapchat has reportedly said the mandate does not apply to its service because it does not use phone numbers to identify users.
The Department of Telecommunications issued directions under the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024.
Messaging platforms must complete implementation of the SIM-binding requirement.
The SIM-binding mandate is scheduled to become operational.
- Compliance deadline
- December 31, 2026
- Operational start
- January 1, 2027
- Web-session logout interval
- No later than six hours
- Platforms named
- WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Snapchat, Arattai, ShareChat, Josh and JioChat
3 sources
What people are saying
some app-based communication services utilising Indian mobile numbers for identification of its customers allows users to consume their services without availability of the underlying subscriber identity module (SIM) within the device in which app-based communication services is running. This feature is being misused to commit cyber-frauds especially from outside the country,