Overview
- The Department of Telecommunications directed eight apps to keep accounts continuously linked to the active SIM or eSIM used for registration, with a December 31, 2026 compliance deadline and rules set to be operational from January 1, 2027.
- Platforms and device makers are working on fixes: media reports say Apple added iOS support for SIM checks and WhatsApp has begun testing SIM‑binding features while some services such as Signal have not publicly confirmed compliance.
- DoT dropped a blanket six‑hour web logout rule and replaced it with risk‑based session terminations, but key implementation details—how eSIMs, dual‑SIM phones and linked devices will be handled—remain unresolved and depend on platform changes.
- Surveys and experts say the rule may not stop the main fraud vectors because most scams use phishing, stolen credentials or malware, and critics warn of operational friction for users who rely on Wi‑Fi‑only devices, travel frequently or use multiple linked devices.
- Beyond immediate access issues, the policy could shift how investigators trace scams, force engineering work at apps and OS vendors, and raise privacy and transparency questions that rights groups say need clearer regulatory guidance.