India proposes new cybersecurity rules for phone verification, facing opposition over cost and user impact.

The Indian government proposes new cybersecurity rules requiring a Mobile Number Validation system to verify phone numbers, aimed at reducing online fraud. Banks and other entities would pay a fee for each verification, leading to higher costs for digital businesses and potentially impacting users and startups. The Internet and Mobile Association of India opposes these rules, arguing they impose unnecessary regulatory burdens and could disrupt services, increase costs, and affect user rights.