The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has informed the Supreme Court that once a cellular mobile telephone number is deactivated, either due to non-usage or upon the user’s request, it is not reassigned to a new user for a minimum period of 90 days. This measure is to ensure the privacy and security of the previous user’s information.
The bench, comprising Justices Sanjeev Khanna and S.V.N. Bhatti, emphasized the responsibility of the previous user to take adequate steps to maintain their privacy. This includes actions such as deleting their WhatsApp account linked to the old phone number and eradicating stored WhatsApp data from local device memory, cloud, or drive to prevent misuse.
WhatsApp’s Vigilance on Recycled Numbers
WhatsApp informed the court that it monitors the deactivation of accounts associated with recycled phone numbers. The messaging platform automatically deletes old account data if the account remains disconnected for 45 days and is then activated on a different mobile device.
Resolution of the Writ Petition
With these observations on record, the court settled a writ petition filed in 2021 that raised concerns over the misuse of mobile numbers post-deactivation. The petition highlighted the potential risks and called for regulatory measures to protect users’ interests after their mobile numbers are disconnected.
The court’s decision and TRAI’s clarification bring relief to users concerned about the privacy of their telecommunications data and set a precedent for how deactivated numbers are to be handled to prevent misuse
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