India’s New SIM Rules for Messaging Apps: A Comedy of Errors or Fraud’s Worst Nightmare?
India mandates SIM-linked messaging apps to combat fraud. Now, WhatsApp, Telegram, and others must ensure accounts are tied to active SIMs, aiming to curb scams and misuse. With mandatory auto-logouts and stricter verification, the Department of Telecommunications hopes to make fraudsters’ lives as difficult as explaining quantum physics to a cat.
Hot Take:
India’s fight against fraud has gone from “Are you talking to me?” to “Are you SIMply who you say you are?” As India tightens its grip on messaging apps with new SIM-binding regulations, the fraudsters are going to have to SIMply find another way to ‘con’ their way through life!
Key Points:
- India mandates SIM-card linkage for messaging apps to curb cyber fraud.
- Apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal have 90 days to comply with the new rules.
- Web sessions must auto-logout every six hours to prevent unauthorized access.
- The regulation aims to reduce fraud by enhancing traceability through a live, verified SIM.
- Cyber-fraud losses in India topped ₹22,800 crore in 2024, prompting these measures.
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