Updates on WhatsApp and Telegram: Big Decision – Platforms Won’t Work on Other Devices Without SIM Card
Updates on WhatsApp and Telegram: Big Decision – Platforms Won’t Work on Other Devices Without SIM Card
Updates on WhatsApp and Telegram: The central government has taken a major decision regarding instant messaging platforms. This will change the way users access apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Arattai, Snapchat, ShareChat, and others. SIM card verification will now be mandatory, and web-based sessions will require automatic logout every 6 hours.
Users will not be able to use these services on devices that do not have the physical SIM card with which the app was registered. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) says this directive aims to prevent cyber fraud.
Government Guidelines:
According to the government order, these communication apps must ensure within 90 days that the SIM card used at the time of registration is present in the device at all times. If the SIM card is missing, access must be blocked. This technical requirement, known as SIM binding, will help verify user identity.
Additionally, WhatsApp Web and other web-based versions of these apps will now require automatic logout every 6 hours, providing further protection against cyber fraud.
The government noted that some app-based communication services allow users to operate without a SIM card, even though mobile numbers are used for verification. This has created challenges for telecom cyber security, as such misuse can be exploited from outside the country.
Impact on Users:
WhatsApp is widely used across India, and these new rules could bring significant changes. Many users operate multiple devices like smartphones and tablets or use two smartphones with the same account linked across devices. SIM binding rules may disrupt this setup.
Furthermore, users who access WhatsApp on laptops or computers for work might face interruptions, as web-based sessions will automatically log out every 6 hours, requiring them to log in again to continue messaging.
