New Delhi: From January 1, messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram will not work without a physical SIM card, under fresh guidelines issued by the Union government. The government said the aim is to curb cross-border cyber fraud, phishing and digital arrest scams run using Indian mobile numbers, and to strengthen telecom cyber security.
Under the new rules, the SIM card linked to a user's account must remain in the phone. That will tighten the link between a messaging app's use and a mobile number.
To comply, Apple has released a software update for iOS. The update is designed to detect when an iPhone is running without a physical SIM card. Signal, however, has not yet responded to the government's notices, according to the information available.
Experts said SIM binding could help rein in accounts created on fake identities and frauds run from abroad. But they noted it could inconvenience some users, especially those living overseas or using more than one phone.
Experts advise users to confirm that their mobile number, SIM and app account are properly linked. How the rules are enforced, and their effect, will become clear over the coming weeks.
The move is part of a wider effort to tighten telecom security. The government has said fraudsters often use numbers obtained on forged documents or routed through internet gateways to hide their identity, and that apps relying only on a number for sign-up have been a particular worry. Telecom operators are expected to work with platforms to verify that the SIM in use matches the number linked to the account.