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