Govt orders mandatory sim-linked login for WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal; Desktop sessions to be auto-logout every 6 hours

NEW DELHI: In just under three months, you will not be able to maintain your desktop/computer login on communication apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal and Snapchat for more than six hours at a stretch. You will have to re-login using the QR code provided by the app provider. Also, if you try to log into your communication apps on smartphones without the SIM card on which you first downloaded the app, it will not connect.This follows new orders issued by the govt that says that communication apps should not allow connections on smartphones where the SIM card on which the user was originally identified is missing. The move is being taken to counter cyber frauds. Companies have to comply or face penalties. “Failure to comply with these directions shall attract action under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 , the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024 (as amended), and other applicable laws.”DoT said the current set-up is being misused by cyber fraudsters. “… it has come to the notice of central govt that some of the app-based communication services that are utilizing mobile number for identification of its customers/users or for provisioning or delivery of services, allows users to consume their services without availability of the underlying Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) within the device in which app-based communication services is running,” the department of telecom said, adding that the feature is posing a challenge to telecom cyber security “as it is being misused from outside the country to commit cyber-frauds”. DoT said it has become necessary to issue the directions to prevent the misuse of telecommunication identifiers and to safeguard the integrity and security of the telecom ecosystem. DoT had issued the orders on Nov 21 and said that it needs to be complied within 90 days. “From 90 days of issue of these instructions, ensure that the app-based communication services are continuously linked to the SIM card (associated with mobile number used for identification of customers/users or for provisioning or delivery of services) installed in the device, making it impossible to use the app without that specific, active SIM.”On the web service on computers, it said, “From 90 days of issue of these instructions, ensure that the web service instance of the mobile app, if provided, shall be logged out periodically (not later than 6 hours) and allow the facility to the user to re-link the device using QR code.”It asked the companies to submit compliance reports to the DoT within 120 days from the issue of the directions.