Government imposes strict rules: WhatsApp, Telegram & other apps can’t operate without an active SIM card
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The central government has taken a major and strict decision to curb the increasing cybercrime in the country. Now messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal will not work without a SIM card. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued new guidelines clarifying that app-based messaging services will only be active if the SIM card is present in the user's mobile or device and is in an active state.
The government issued these directives on November 28th, requiring them to implement the new rules within 120 days. All companies providing app-based communications services in India have been directed to implement the new rules and submit a compliance report to the Department of Telecommunications within 120 days. Failure to comply will result in strict legal action under the Telecommunications Act 2023 and cybersecurity regulations.
Currently, even if you remove the SIM from your phone, but the phone is connected to Wi-Fi, WhatsApp and other messaging apps continue to function as before. Following the government's new directive, this feature will be discontinued. This means that messaging apps will stop working as soon as the SIM is removed or deactivated from the device.
Why was this strict action necessary? The government had learned that criminals and several groups operating from abroad were exploiting this technical flaw. They would continue chatting by running the app via Wi-Fi on the old number even after the SIM was changed or deactivated. Since the app wasn't linked to the SIM at that time, security agencies had a hard time tracking them. This had become an "ideal situation" for cybercrime, and the government has taken this precautionary measure to eliminate it.
This government decision will impact almost all popular messaging and social media apps in India. These include:
Telegram
Signal
Snapchat
JioChat
ShareChat & Josh