New Delhi: A new challenge has emerged in the world of corporate communication and digital security: companies are increasingly finding it difficult to regulate the use of WhatsApp on mobile numbers even after the associated SIM card services are cancelled. Despite telecom operators deactivating mobile services, the popular messaging platform continues to function seamlessly on Wi-Fi, leaving organizations with limited options to restrict or monitor its use.
The issue has surfaced most prominently in sectors where corporate SIM cards are distributed to employees for official communication. Many firms deactivate these numbers once an employee leaves the organization or when misuse is suspected. However, unlike traditional calls and SMS services that are instantly disabled upon cancellation, WhatsApp accounts linked to such numbers remain active as long as the user maintains the app on their device and has access to the internet.
Cybersecurity experts warn that this loophole has serious implications. Former employees or individuals with access to deactivated numbers can continue to operate WhatsApp accounts under the same mobile identity, sometimes misusing it for impersonation, fraudulent activity, or unauthorized communication. The delayed verification process for WhatsApp reactivation means that unless the cancelled number is reassigned quickly to a new user, the original account can persist indefinitely.
Corporate administrators say that the problem is compounded by WhatsApp’s architecture itself. Unlike enterprise communication platforms that rely on centralized corporate accounts, WhatsApp identifies users purely by their mobile number. Once verified, the app does not continuously validate the SIM card; it merely requires internet connectivity. “This makes control almost impossible once the SIM is cancelled. The number becomes inactive on the network, but the identity lives on in the digital space,” a telecom security analyst explained.
Legal experts point out that this gap creates a regulatory blind spot. While mobile operators are bound by strict Know Your Customer (KYC) rules to deactivate a number upon request, there is no equivalent mechanism forcing instant disconnection of linked Over-the-Top (OTT) applications such as WhatsApp. As India pushes forward with its draft Digital India Act, analysts suggest that new provisions may be required to bridge this disconnect between telecom regulation and app-based communication services.
For businesses, the impact is both operational and reputational. Unauthorized WhatsApp activity under a company-issued number can lead to data leaks, spread of misinformation, or even damage to corporate image. Industry insiders say some companies are now adopting stricter exit protocols, including forced deletion of WhatsApp accounts from devices at the time of employee separation. Others are considering enterprise-focused alternatives like WhatsApp Business API with tighter administrative controls.
At a larger level, the situation highlights the growing friction between traditional telecom regulation and modern internet-based services. While phone numbers once served as fixed identities strictly controlled by operators, they are now fluid digital markers extended across a range of applications. Unless there is a coordinated approach between telecom companies, regulators, and app providers, the problem of “ghost numbers” on WhatsApp is likely to deepen.