India mandates SIM binding for WhatsApp, Telegram from January 2027

The Indian government has mandated that messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram will stop functioning in the country from January 1, 2027, unless the phone contains the active SIM card used during account registration. The Department of Telecommunications issued the rule to curb cross-border cyber fraud, phishing, and digital arrest scams, closing a loophole where apps verified users via Indian numbers but allowed access without the SIM present. The directive applies to major platforms including WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, and Signal under the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024. Users who rely on Wi-Fi without their registered SIM, or who switch SIMs frequently, will be most affected. Web versions must log users out every six hours, and Apple has reportedly released a software patch to detect iPhones running without a physical SIM.