DoT Mandates ‘SIM Binding’ for WhatsApp to Combat Cyber Fraud

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a new mandate requiring WhatsApp and other messaging apps to implement ‘SIM binding’ by February 2026. This security feature will periodically verify that the SIM card associated with a WhatsApp account is physically present and active in the device. accounts that fail verification will be temporarily restricted. Additionally, the directive requires web-based versions of the app to automatically log out every six hours to prevent unauthorized access via remotely controlled desktops.