The government is said to be open to the idea of considering exemptions for platforms that do not primarily focus on one-to-one communication
Meanwhile, messaging apps such as Arattai, WhatsApp and JioChat are said to be developing measures to link accounts with users’ SIM cards as required by the rule
Under the rules, issued in December 2025, platforms must ensure users can only access services on devices with the SIM card originally used for registration
The Centre is reportedly considering easing some of the proposed SIM-binding rules after industry players raised concerns over the scope of the regulation.
The rules, issued by the telecom department (DoT) in December 2025, require OTT messaging apps to remain continuously linked to a user’s SIM card. It also mandates that users of web or desktop versions of these apps be logged out every six hours.
However, as per The Hindu businessline report, several social media and tech platforms have pushed back, arguing that the rule should apply only to pure messaging apps and not to platforms where messaging is just one of many features.
According to the report, the government is now open to considering exemptions for platforms that do not primarily focus on one-to-one communication.
“Since the intent of the law was to cover purely communication apps, the DoT is being slightly lenient but there’s no consensus yet,” a source reportedly said.
Meanwhile, some companies have reportedly already started working on compliance. Messaging apps such as Arattai, WhatsApp and JioChat are said to be developing measures to link accounts with users’ SIM cards as required by the rule.
The directive stems from the Telecommunication Cybersecurity Amendment Rules, 2025, which expanded telecom regulations to include messaging and social platforms that identify users through mobile numbers.
Under the rules, issued in December 2025, platforms must ensure users can only access services on devices with the SIM card originally used for registration. Companies were directed to implement the required technical changes within 90 days (which expired at the end of February) and submit compliance reports within four months.
This follows DoT sending a notice to digital intermediaries, raising concerns over cybersecurity risks posed due to non-SIM-bound devices. It also noted that such devices could be misused from outside the country to carry out telecom-related cyber fraud.
The six-hour logout requirement for web or desktop versions, like WhatsApp Web, is also aimed at preventing persistent sessions across multiple devices or geographies.
However, industry stakeholders have warned that strict enforcement could disrupt legitimate usage, particularly for users travelling abroad or those who access messaging platforms across multiple devices.
The Broadband India Forum had earlier told the government that the rule may go beyond the DoT’s statutory powers and could raise issues related to right to equality. It also suggested alternative measures, such as stricter SIM-KYC enforcement and better coordination between telecom operators, financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, to ensure compliance.
With the February 28 compliance deadline already passed, discussions between the government and industry players are still ongoing, and a final decision on exemptions is yet to be made.
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