Mobile numbers deactivated, disconnected not allocated again for 90 days: TRAI to SC

Flagging apprehensions of the potential for misuse of WhatsApp data after the number using it is deactivated due to disuse, the petitioner urged the bench to direct TRAI to stop recycling old or deactivated mobile numbers.

TRAI told the court that a user can prevent misuse of WhatsApp data by deleting the WhatsApp account linked to the phone number that the subscriber is giving up, and also by erasing the data stored on the local device memory/ cloud/ drive.

Taking note of TRAI’s submission, the bench noted that the previous subscriber of the mobile number has to do due diligence to ensure his or her privacy is not breached.

“We are not inclined to proceed further with the present writ petition…,” the bench said and disposed of the petition.

In its affidavit, TRAI also referred to WhatsApp’s statement that it monitors account inactivity, and that when an account is inactive for 45 days and then activated on a different mobile device, the old account data is removed.

It also pointed out that sometimes subscribers do not update the service delivery platforms/ systems due to disuse or lack of awareness of the possibility of misuse.

To address this, it added, a monthly Mobile Number Revocation List (MNRL) is made available to stakeholders. As per information available on TRAI website, MNRL is the list of permanently disconnected mobile numbers, published on the TRAI website every month, allowing various agencies to independently download and easily clean up their database.