India New Data Law Mobile Numbers: Under the new data protection law, taking mobile numbers from customers is now forbidden. These laws will bring changes to how the data of customers is deposited and used by retailers.
Mobile Number Privacy Law India: The government is going to bring a new data protection law to protect customers’ mobile numbers. According to this law, it would be illegal to ask for mobile numbers from customers during billing at shops. The first retail companies have been accused of selling mobile numbers of millions of customers, selling them to other companies. However, this new law is being introduced to increase the security of the mobile number and prevent its misuse.
Right now, shopkeepers ask customers at the billing counter asking them to include them in the loyalty program or send the bill directly on their phone. Customers often consider it necessary and give their number. However, the new data protection law considers this method a violation of the interests of data protection. Other methods like keypad entry can be adopted to maintain privacy and security.
The law says that customers should be told why their data is being deposited, how long will it be kept and when it will be deleted. Before taking consent from the customer, all these things should be clearly told. Not twisting. According to the Times of India report, Digital Personal Data Protection Act will force companies to reconsider how they deposit and use customers’ data, such as mobile numbers,. These changes will also affect the existing loyalty program.
Under the new data protection law, if customers do not want to share their mobile number, shopkeepers cannot refuse to serve him. Shops will have to give options like sending paper bills or bills on emails. Also, selling customers’ data will also be banned, which will solve a major problem.
According to the Times of India report, the visitor management system will also have to clearly explain why they are submitting the phone numbers and assure that the data will be misused, sold or will not be kept for longer than time.
Large retailers are preparing according to the new law, but these rules will also apply to the visitor’s entry system and housing society, which regularly record the phone number. According to the report, these institutions will now have to adopt systematic methods to follow the rules.
New rules will curb the use of private data
The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 brought by the Ministry of Electronics and IT explains these rules. Under the DPDP Rules, 2025, this law is to be implemented by August 2025.
Private data, including mobile number, can only be kept for as long as it needs. This time can last up to three years of being used for the last time or to the deadline mentioned in the rules. After this time or when the customer’s consent is withdrawn, the shops will have to delete the data. Companies will have to take strict security measures to prevent any kind of misuse of customers’ phone number from being stolen or leaking.