New WhatsApp rules to kick in from March 1: SIM binding to curb cyber fraud

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): There is a very important news for crores of Indian users using messaging apps. The central government has made it clear that the 'SIM-Binding' rule will be mandatorily applicable for OTT messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has set a deadline of March 1 for this and the government is not in favor of giving any kind of relaxation in this matter. The direct meaning of this new rule is that the user's messaging account should be linked to the same active SIM card which is present in the device at that time.

There will be restrictions on the use of linked devices and WhatsApp Web

The implementation of this strict rule will have the biggest impact on users who use WhatsApp on different devices with the same mobile number. Currently, the 'Linked Device' feature allows WhatsApp to work on other devices for 14 days, but now this will face a major disruption. If the registered SIM card is removed from the main phone, WhatsApp may stop working. Apart from this, there will be a change in the rules of WhatsApp Web, under which it will automatically log out every six hours and it will be mandatory to scan the QR code again and again to activate it. This change is likely to have a direct impact on the functioning of people who change SIM frequently as well as small businesses.

Cyber ​​fraud and fake accounts will be curbed

This strict government move is primarily aimed at digital security. According to reports, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has clarified that security is paramount and that no changes will be made to SIM-binding rules. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in online fraud, fake call centers, and fraudulent profiles. The government argues that when every messaging account is linked to an active, genuine SIM card, it will be much easier for police and investigative agencies to track and apprehend cybercriminals.

Despite protests from tech companies, the government is unwilling to back down

Many global tech companies and industry groups have expressed concerns about this significant policy change. Some messaging companies argue that this rule could be against privacy and goes beyond the scope of technical and legal considerations. However, despite these concerns and protests, the central government's stance is clear: there is no indication of withdrawing or postponing this rule. The March 1st deadline is nearing, and it is expected that this will bring about a major change in the entire digital communication system, including WhatsApp.