India, Oct. 23 -- Using WhatsApp without a SIM card in your phone could become more complicated under the government's new rules. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) wants covered messaging platforms to ensure that accounts remain linked to the mobile numbers used to register them.

The move is aimed at reducing online fraud by making it harder to operate messaging accounts without a proper connection to a verified mobile number. The compliance deadline for the platforms is December 31, 2026.

For users, the biggest question is whether they will still be able to access their accounts when their registered SIM cards are not inside their phones. The answer will depend on how WhatsApp, Telegram and other covered services put the rules...