India’s telecom ministry has ordered major messaging apps, including WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, to implement continuous SIM binding to tackle cyber-fraud losses that topped ₹228 billion in 2024. Accounts must stay linked to the active SIM card used at registration, and providers have 90 days to comply. On web and desktop clients, users will be automatically logged out every six hours and must re-link via QR code, ensuring each session remains tied to a live, KYC‑verified mobile number. 

The ministry said these measures are meant to restore traceability of phone numbers used in phishing, investment scams, “digital arrest” extortion, and fraudulent loan schemes. By anchoring every active account and session to a verified SIM, authorities aim to make it harder for criminals to operate anonymously at scale.

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