NEW DELHI — The Department of Telecommunications has issued a new directive requiring messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, to automatically log users out every six hours as part of a broader push to bind digital communication services to a user’s physical SIM card.
The order mandates that the SIM used at the time of registration must remain tied to the services of web-based messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Arattai, Snapchat, and ShareChat. Because the service must stay linked to the SIM inside the registered device, web versions like WhatsApp Web will be forced to log users out at six-hour intervals once the rule takes effect.
According to the circular, users will no longer be able to access these platforms within 90 days unless the original SIM is present in the device. Each platform must file a compliance report within four months.
The move is expected to disrupt the seamless multi-device experience many users rely on during the workday, particularly those who keep WhatsApp Web active for hours. The government, however, said the measure is necessary to curb cyber fraud, noting that criminals have exploited messaging apps without possessing the associated SIM card, often from locations outside India.
Officials said tying services to a physical SIM improves traceability and strengthens cybersecurity. The rule stems from the Telecommunication Cybersecurity Amendment Rules, 2025, which introduced a new requirement known as the Telecommunication Identifier User Entity. Under the updated framework, platforms will need access to the International Mobile Subscriber Identity stored on the SIM, a shift that will require global services such as WhatsApp to re-engineer parts of their systems specifically for Indian users.
Tech companies have raised concerns that constant SIM verification and mandatory six-hour logouts will undermine user privacy, disrupt multi-device convenience, and create obstacles for users traveling without their primary SIM. Telecom operators, in contrast, have expressed support for the new rules. (Source: IANS)
