The Central government has extended the deadline for implementing ‘SIM binding’ rules to December 31, 2026. This means the new rules will now come into effect from January 1, 2027. The government has taken this step considering the industry’s demand. Under the new rules, messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal will not work if there is no SIM card in the mobile. WhatsApp logged in on a computer will also log out in 6 hours. The government claims that this will help prevent cyber fraud. Understand the new rule and how it will affect you from the answers to 6 questions? Question 1. What is SIM binding? Answer. SIM binding is a security shield. It ‘locks’ your messaging app with your physical SIM card. The biggest advantage of this is that no hacker or fraudster will be able to use your number from another device. Question 2. When will the new SIM binding rule come into effect? Answer. When you link an app with SIM binding, that app will only open when your registered SIM card is present inside the same phone. This rule will be effective from January 1, 2027. Question 3. Why did the government refuse to extend the deadline? Answer. Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that there is currently no consideration to extend the deadline for complying with the rules. He said that these rules have been implemented for national security and to prevent fraud, and the government will not compromise on security issues. Question 4. What will users have to do from January 1? Answer. Users will have to ensure that the SIM card for the number their WhatsApp is registered with is in the same phone. If the SIM card is removed from the phone, the messaging app may stop working. Question 5. What is the stance of tech companies and organizations on this? Answer. The Industry Association (IAMAI) has warned the government that the rule of logging out every 6 hours will be troublesome for professionals. It will also cause problems for users who share the same account. Question 6. What action will be taken if companies do not comply with the rules? Answer. According to the central government’s order, companies will have to submit a report on this within 120 days. Non-compliance with the rules will result in action under the Telecommunication Act 2023, Telecom Cybersecurity Rules, and other applicable laws.
