IAMAI warns DoT’s sim-binding rules could disrupt digital services, miss fraud target

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The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) on December 16 said that it has cautioned the government that the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) new SIM-binding directions could trigger disruption across app-based communication services.

In a letter to the Union Ministry of Communications, IAMAI said the requirement for continuous SIM-binding, along with mandatory 6-hour logouts on web and desktop versions of messaging platforms, risked interrupting routine business operations.

The SIM-binding directions issued by the Department of Telecommunications mandate that certain app-based communication services in India be continuously linked to a user’s mobile SIM. Under the directions, users must remain authenticated through their SIM at all times, and web or desktop versions of these applications are required to enforce periodic logouts—reportedly every six hours—unless the SIM-linked mobile device is actively connected.

The association flagged concerns for MSMEs and small business owners who rely on uninterrupted access to such applications and it also also pointed to practical challenges for users who travel internationally, operate dual-SIM devices and so on.

IAMAI also questioned the efficacy of SIM-binding as an anti-fraud measure.

It argued that organised fraud networks typically use SIM cards procured through fake or borrowed identities and discard them quickly, indicating that these rules would very unlikely have an effect on such frauds.

The association has urged DoT to reconsider the mandate and instead proposed setting up a technical working group involving government, industry and experts to develop more targeted, evidence-based solutions to tackle cybercrime.