NEW DELHI, Dec 1 — Messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and Snapchat, will be required to log users out of their web versions every six hours under a new directive from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
The rule, issued last week, mandates that web-based services remain linked to the subscriber identity module (SIM) used during account registration. “Within 90 days, users will no longer be able to access these apps without the original SIM present in the device,” the DoT circular noted. Platforms must also submit a compliance report within four months.
The change disrupts the seamless multi-device experience many users have enjoyed during work hours. The government said the move aims to prevent misuse by cyber fraudsters who accessed WhatsApp and other apps without the SIM, often from outside India. “SIM binding provides a way to trace activity to a physical subscriber,” officials said.
The rules stem from the Telecommunication Cybersecurity Amendment Rules, 2025, which introduced the Telecommunication Identifier User Entity requirement. Platforms will now need access to the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) stored on the SIM, forcing global services to modify their systems for Indian users.
Tech companies have expressed concern over privacy and convenience. “Constant SIM checks and six-hour logouts will erode user privacy and break multi-device access, especially while travelling,” a company representative said. Telecom operators, however, welcomed the move as a necessary step against cybercrime.
