Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has started blocking WhatsApp accounts that are linked to inactive SIM cards, in order to prevent their potential misuse. According to officials, the move follows an awareness campaign in which the authority urged users to make sure that their WhatsApp accounts are registered with active mobile numbers that they currently own and control. The authority has advised users to update their WhatsApp registration if the SIM cards that were previously linked to their accounts have been deactivated, cancelled or are no longer in use. The blocking began after earlier notices, since PTA had warned users in recent months that accounts on inactive numbers could be blocked at any time.
The authority explained why an old number creates a risk. Telecom operators may issue inactive numbers to other subscribers, and if a WhatsApp account remains linked to a number that has been reassigned, the original owner could lose control of the account, and the new holder of the number could gain unauthorized access. A WhatsApp account is tied to a phone number and not to a person, so a number that is no longer under the control of its first user leaves the account exposed. PTA has urged mobile phone users to check the status of their SIMs and to make sure that their WhatsApp accounts are linked to numbers that they actively use.
Users who have changed their mobile numbers are advised to use the Change Number feature of WhatsApp, which allows an account to be moved to a new number so that the owner keeps control of it and reduces the risk of misuse. People who are not sure whether a SIM that is registered in their name is still active should check its status before they take further steps. The advice applies to anyone whose previous number has been deactivated or cancelled, and the authority has asked those users to act without delay, since accounts that are tied to inactive numbers are now being blocked.
The step comes alongside wider attention to the misuse of mobile numbers and messaging accounts. In a separate parliamentary meeting, a Senate committee raised concerns about the misuse of WhatsApp accounts and the alleged illegal use of SIM cards in cases of financial fraud. The latest action by PTA follows its previous warnings about the security risks that are linked with WhatsApp accounts registered on inactive or cancelled SIM cards, and it is aimed at reducing the chance that such accounts are used for fraud or other illegal activity. For users, the practical step is to confirm that the number linked to WhatsApp is active and in their possession.
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