This is one of those frustrating, unavoidable regulatory changes that hits user convenience square in the face. The government is serious about using SIM binding to fight cyber fraud, but the immediate impact is friction for millions of daily users.
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Here is the raw, narrative breakdown of the DoT’s new mandate:
Multi-Device is Dead: WhatsApp Web to Auto-Logout Every Six Hours
Here’s the problem: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is classifying messaging apps (WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, etc.) as Telecommunication Identifier User Entities (TIUEs). This means they are now regulated like telecom companies when it comes to user identity.
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The Mandates That Break Convenience
The DoT issued two non-negotiable directives, giving companies 90 days to comply:
Mandatory SIM Binding: Your account must be continuously linked to the original, active SIM card. If you remove, replace, or deactivate the SIM, the app must cease to function. The old system—where you got one OTP and the app worked forever—is over.
The Six-Hour Time Bomb: This is the one that disrupts the workday. Services like WhatsApp Web will be forcibly logged out every six hours. And then the user has to re-authenticate, likely by scanning a QR code with the phone (which needs the active SIM). The seamless multi-device experience is effectively destroyed.
Why the Government is Pushing This
The move flows from the Telecommunication Cybersecurity Amendment Rules, 2025.
The Target: Cyber fraudsters. Officials argue that criminals often exploit messaging apps—sometimes from outside India—without the SIM present, making tracing nearly impossible.
The Rationale: Forcing SIM binding creates a traceable link between the physical subscriber, the mobile number, and the device. This is meant to shut down the loophole exploited for phishing, scams, and digital impersonation.
The Industry Headache
Tech companies, including the giants with over 500 million users in India, are worried.
Friction: Constant SIM checks and mandatory six-hour logouts disrupt travel, multi-device use (like tablets), and professional workflows.
Re-Engineering: WhatsApp and others will have to re-engineer their global systems just for Indian users, as no other country imposes SIM linkage at this extreme level.
The mandate is set to disrupt daily life significantly once the platforms comply, which is due in early 2026. The work is ongoing, but the convenience is already marked for expiration.
Also read:GATE 2026 exam schedule released, exam to begin from this date
