India Mandates SIM-Binding: WhatsApp and Telegram Users Must Re-verify Every 6 Hours

On 3 December 2025, India’s Department of Telecommunications issued a directive requiring that users of major instant-messaging platforms must not access services or send messages unless their accounts are linked to a valid SIM card tied to an Indian mobile number. Platforms including WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, Arattai, ShareChat, Josh, JioChat and Signal have been given 90 days to comply.

Under the new rule, messaging apps must automatically log users out every six hours, and if an active SIM-linked account cannot be detected, the user cannot log back in. According to the department, this aims to close security gaps exploited by cross-border criminal operations and to enable law-enforcement tracing using real-identity data. Domestic Indian messaging services are expected to comply with minimal resistance, though the fate of foreign platforms, particularly privacy-focused ones, remains uncertain.