New Delhi: WhatsApp enjoys immense popularity worldwide, with India boasting the largest number of users. The ways in which people use the platform have evolved. It may come as a surprise to learn that, moving forward, sending messages on WhatsApp will require the specific SIM card linked to your account to be present in the device you are using.
Using WhatsApp on secondary phones, tablets, or laptops will no longer be as straightforward as it once was. The introduction of “SIM binding” has sparked various questions. According to the government, this change will help curb cyber fraud. Meanwhile, a recent study indicates that ordinary users and small business owners have expressed several concerns regarding this development.
Will it disrupt daily operations?
According to the study, many small business owners fear that this rule could hinder their day-to-day operations. Furthermore, many remain sceptical about whether linking a SIM card to a device will actually make messaging apps any more secure. This raises the question: to what extent will this new government mandate alter how users interact with apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal?
What is the “SIM binding” rule?
In November 2025, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued directives regarding “SIM binding” for apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Snapchat, Arattai, ShareChat, Josh, and JioChat—platforms that identify users via their mobile numbers. The government has noted that some individuals continue to use these apps even when the associated SIM card is not present in the device. This vulnerability can be exploited to facilitate cyber fraud, potentially even from abroad.
Under these rules, the respective apps must ensure that the active SIM card linked to an account is present in the device being used to access the app. The government has granted these companies until December 31, 2026, to ensure full compliance with these regulations. Additionally, the new rules are expected to come into effect from January 1, 2027. However, this does not necessarily mean that WhatsApp will suddenly stop working for everyone on that date.
What did the new study reveal?
According to the report, a tech policy think tank called the Esya Centre surveyed individuals and business owners regarding ‘SIM binding.’ The study included 353 small business owners from 17 cities and 2,033 customers from 18 cities. The survey was carried out between February and April 2026.
In the survey, approximately 87.2% of small business owners expressed concern regarding SIM-related fraud. However, 81% of these business owners did not believe that SIM binding would enhance the security of messaging apps.
