A new directive by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that would effectively stop online messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal from working without an active SIM within the device, is being viewed as a step toward broader regulatory oversight by the DoT over OTT (Over-the-top) communication platforms.

The directive appears to confirm what tech giants like Apple, Google, Meta, Snap Inc., and others had previously feared: the Telecom Act, 2023 – which grants extensive powers to the DoT to regulate the telecom sector – may also encompass OTT applications and internet services.

While former telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had, at the time, clarified publicly to the media that OTTs are not under the ambit of the law, lawyers said that the new directive suggests otherwis

See Full Page