Azerbaijani lawmaker Razi Nurullayev has proposed a quarantine period before inactive mobile phone numbers are reassigned, warning that recycled numbers can remain linked to bank accounts, email and social-media profiles belonging to former users.
Speaking at a Milli Majlis session on October 23, Nurullayev said a new subscriber could receive SMS messages containing bank verification codes and other confidential information intended for the number’s previous owner.
The problem arises when a subscriber stops using a number but does not remove it from linked accounts. If the operator later cancels and reassigns the number, those connections may remain active. Mobile numbers are commonly used to confirm identity and restore access to online accounts.
Nurullayev proposed a special quarantine period before a number is transferred to a new subscriber, along with additional protections for services carrying greater security risks. He did not specify how long the quarantine should last.
The lawmaker also called for closer coordination among mobile operators, banks and electronic-service providers.
Nurullayev said the issue was not simply the inconvenience of receiving someone else’s messages, but the protection of personal data, account security and the prevention of fraud. The remarks were reported in a television segment.