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WhatsApp is developing a new verification system for Indian users that will periodically confirm whether an account remains linked to an active mobile number.
The move follows a directive from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to prevent the misuse of disconnected or reassigned SIM cards. The update, currently in beta, signals one of the platform’s most significant India-specific compliance changes.
Reassigned mobile numbers have become a growing security concern because digital accounts often remain active even after a SIM is deactivated. Under the proposed framework, WhatsApp will ensure that an account stays connected to a functioning number.
This aligns the platform with India’s mandatory SIM linkage norms and reduces the risk of unauthorised access through recycled connections.
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At present, WhatsApp verifies a phone number only once during login using a six-digit code. The beta version for Android (2.26.8.6) suggests the introduction of periodic background checks to confirm SIM activity.
If the system detects that the registered number is inactive, users may be prompted to re-verify through a fresh code. Access could be temporarily restricted until the process is completed, although chat history and pending messages are expected to remain unaffected.
The change will apply only to accounts with +91 numbers, while users in other regions will see no difference in their login flow. Passkey-based authentication is unlikely to replace SIM validation because the regulation requires number-based confirmation.
WhatsApp’s existing two-step verification will continue as an additional security layer. The feature is still in development and is expected to roll out in phases after internal testing.
