WhatsApp Faces Major Challenges in India as New Government Rules Threaten Business and Daily Use

WhatsApp, the messaging app owned by Meta and relied on by hundreds of millions of Indians, is at a critical crossroads. Recent government directives could fundamentally alter how the platform operates for both daily users and small businesses. The rules, released at the end of November, require messaging apps to stay tied to an active SIM card and enforce stricter controls on device access.

The Indian government says these measures are aimed at reducing cyber fraud, which cost the country over ₹228 billion ($2.5 billion) in 2024 alone. Digital advocacy groups and industry representatives, including Meta, have warned that the new rules risk overreach and could interfere with legitimate use. In India, WhatsApp has evolved into a core tool for communication and commerce, making the potential disruption significant.

Under the new regulations, apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal must ensure that accounts remain linked to the SIM used at sign-up. Web and desktop versions will require users to log out every six hours and reconnect via QR codes. While the government clarified that roaming users are exempt, these measures are expected to hit WhatsApp hardest, given its 500 million Indian users and unusually high engagement rates.

The impact could be particularly severe for small businesses using WhatsApp Business. Many rely on the web version to communicate with customers, often from devices separate from their SIM-linked phones. Mandatory SIM binding and frequent logouts could disrupt order-taking, customer support, and daily operations. This comes at a time when WhatsApp is actively expanding multi-device features to make it easier for users and businesses to stay connected across multiple devices.

Experts have raised serious concerns about the feasibility and legal basis of the rules. Industry body Broadband India Forum called them likely to cause “material inconvenience and service disruption.” Policy analysts note that the rules place messaging apps under telecom regulations, shifting them from IT Act governance, and were introduced without public consultation. While challenging the directives in court is possible, experts say success may be difficult due to the high legal threshold for overturning delegated legislation.

source: Techcrunch