Top News

WhatsApp, used by millions of people in India for everyday communication and work, is currently going through a difficult time in the country. Recent directives from the Indian government have put pressure on companies to change how the app works, which could directly impact ordinary users and small businesses.

What are the new rules?
The government issued some directives late last month, which were recently made public. According to these rules, accounts on messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal will now always be linked to an active SIM card. The biggest change is for those who use WhatsApp on a laptop or computer. According to the new rules, users on the web and desktop versions will be required to log out every six hours and re-link their devices via a QR code to regain access. Companies have been given 90 days from the date of the directive, November 28th, to comply with these rules.

Government's Argument
The government states that these strict measures have been taken to curb rising cybercrimes. According to the Ministry of Telecommunications, cyber fraud in India resulted in losses of over ₹228 billion in 2024. The government believes that SIM-binding and a six-hour logout will ensure that every account and web session is linked to a KYC-verified SIM. This will make it easier to trace numbers involved in crimes like phishing, digital arrests, and loan scams. However, the government has clarified that this rule will not apply while roaming.

Small Businesses Will Be Deeply Impacted
While these rules apply to all major messaging apps, WhatsApp, which has over 500 million users in India, will be particularly affected. This could pose a significant problem for small businesses using WhatsApp Business. Many shopkeepers and small businesses register their business accounts on a smartphone. But they use WhatsApp Web on their computers to take orders and communicate with customers. Forced logging out every six hours will repeatedly interrupt their work and hinder customer service delivery.

Concerns from Industry and Experts
Digital advocacy groups and the Broadband India Forum (BIF), including Meta, have warned that this will cause significant inconvenience to ordinary users and is technically difficult to implement. Furthermore, it attempts to bring messaging apps under the ambit of telecom regulations, which traditionally fall under the IT Act. Policy experts say that imposing such rules without any public discussion may not prevent fraud but will certainly increase difficulties for legitimate users.

WhatsApp's Changing Face in India
According to data from Sensor Tower, WhatsApp has a strong user base in India. In November, 94% of monthly users in India accessed the app daily. At the same time, WhatsApp Business now has more downloads than regular WhatsApp Messenger, indicating that the app's growth in India is now driven more by merchants and businesses than by new users.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.