SIM Binding: The recent directive of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has created a stir in the digital world. After this order, online messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal will not be able to run on any device without an active SIM. Experts believe that this step could be the beginning of comprehensive control over OTT platforms.
Tech companies had already expressed apprehension that the new Telecom Act 2023 could also bring OTT apps under its ambit, even though at that time it was said that OTT would not come under the purview of this law. But the new order seems to prove that apprehension correct.
Legal experts warn and question the limits of authority
According to the report of Indian Express, many legal experts are considering this as going beyond the jurisdiction of DoT. According to Supreme Court lawyer Vrinda Bhandari, this decision amounts to direct regulation of messaging apps whereas the jurisdiction over such apps has traditionally been with the Ministry of IT (MeitY).
Another expert, Aishwarya Kaushik, believes that bringing any service that uses mobile numbers into the cyber security framework of DoT is a big expansion. He says that DoT’s powers should be limited to genuine telecom identity security.
Users will have to log in again every six hours
DoT has sent notices to WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, Signal and other apps directing them that the user’s SIM should be continuously linked to their account. This means that these apps will not be used on devices without SIM.
Web versions like WhatsApp Web will auto-logout every six hours. You will have to re-link the QR code every time. This step is being said to be a measure to prevent digital fraud, but digital rights experts see a huge threat to the privacy of users.
Risk to users will increase and technical challenges will also become serious.
Experts say that continuous SIM-binding can create the impression that any digital disturbance or fraud has been committed by the SIM card holder. This will increase additional legal burden on users.
Additionally, SIM-binding is not technically easy to implement for messaging apps. According to Gartner analyst Apeksha Kaushik, this method will definitely help in preventing fraud, but if implemented incorrectly, it can also cause problems for genuine users.
Legal basis of the Directive and new cyber rules
After the implementation of Telecom Act 2023, DoT has issued several new rules which cover aspects like internet shutdown, cyber security and legal monitoring. The Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Amendment Rules issued in 2025 opened the way for the Mobile Number Validation platform under which apps were instructed to implement SIM-binding. However, such a stringent condition as “continuous SIM-binding” is not directly mentioned in the rules.
Banking Apps vs Messaging Apps
Many banking apps in India, including SBI, work by providing SIM-binding style security feature but they use device-binding and not actual SIM-binding. Experts say that the new order of DoT will create a de-facto whitelist effect for messaging apps. Only those apps that meet these conditions will be able to work in India.
Telecom companies happy, tech companies angry
Telecom companies have welcomed this order. COAI described it as “a strong initiative implemented for the first time in the world” to prevent cyber fraud. But on the other hand, Broadband India Forum representing companies like Google, Meta is expressing serious concern about this directive.
He says that the timeline for implementation should be increased, an open public consultation process should be started, and a new framework should be created in collaboration with tech companies and security experts. They believe that this order increases unnecessary controls and can harm the convenience and privacy of users.
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