Starting January 1, 2027, using WhatsApp and Telegram in India could become more complicated for people who don’t keep their registered SIM cards in their phones.
India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed messaging platforms to ensure their services remain linked to the active SIM card associated with a user’s registered mobile number. Platforms have until December 31, 2026, to comply with the requirement.
The aim is to curb cybercrime, including phishing, impersonation, and so-called digital arrest scams. But while the government wants to make it harder for fraudsters to operate using Indian phone numbers from abroad, the rules could also affect how ordinary users access their messaging accounts across different devices.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
What SIM binding means
SIM binding requires messaging apps to remain linked to the active SIM card associated with the number used to register an account. Under the DoT’s directive, the app must not work on a device without that specific SIM being present and active.
This means users who remove their registered SIM, deactivate the number or use the account on a phone without the associated SIM could lose access until the requirement is met.
The directive covers services including WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, Arattai, ShareChat, Josh, JioChat and Signal. However, recent reports suggest Snapchat may be exempt, while Signal’s position remains unclear.
The rules also address access through web and desktop services. Initially, the government required these sessions to log users out at least once every six hours. However, a subsequent clarification to Parliament replaced the fixed interval with a risk-based approach, meaning there is no specified automatic six-hour logout requirement under the revised position.
Why the government is introducing the rules
According to the DoT, contained in various reports, some messaging services allow users to continue using their accounts even after the SIM associated with the registered number has been removed from the device.
The department says criminals have exploited this arrangement to conduct cyber fraud, particularly from outside India.
For example, fraudsters can register messaging accounts using Indian mobile numbers and continue operating those accounts remotely, even when the original SIM is no longer in the phone. These accounts can then be used for phishing, impersonation and scams in which criminals pose as government officials to intimidate victims into transferring money.
The government argues that requiring an active SIM to remain in the device will make these activities harder and improve the traceability of accounts involved in fraud.
However, the effectiveness of the measure will depend on how platforms implement the checks and whether criminals can find other ways to circumvent them.
Who will be affected the most?
Most users who keep their registered SIM in their primary phone may notice little difference once the rules take effect.
The bigger changes could affect people who use messaging apps in less conventional ways.
For instance, someone who registered WhatsApp on one phone but now uses the account on another device without the original SIM could lose access. People who remove their SIM after registering an account may also need to change their habits.
Travellers could face additional complications if they routinely remove their Indian SIM to use a local number abroad. Keeping the Indian SIM active in the phone, including while roaming, should help avoid disruption under the stated requirements.
Dual-SIM users may have more flexibility, provided the registered SIM remains present and active. However, people who rely on Wi-Fi-only devices or use messaging accounts across multiple phones will need to pay closer attention to how their chosen apps implement the rules.
Apple has also reportedly introduced software changes to help apps detect whether an iPhone has an active SIM. This could help developers implement the required checks, although the exact experience may differ between platforms and devices.
Importantly, the rules do not target specific iPhone or Android models. The requirement concerns the relationship between a messaging account, its registered number, and the SIM present in the device.
What should WhatsApp and Telegram users do?
The deadline for messaging platforms to comply is December 31, 2026, with the new requirements expected to take effect from January 1, 2027.
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