(Image source from: Google)

In a bid to check spam, free email providers like Gmail and Yahoo have decided to make phone numbers mandatory while creating new email ids.

If you are planning to create a new email id, you must make sure that you provide your telephone numbers for verification.

Hitherto, giving phone number was optional, but repeated attempts to create a new email address on Gmail by skipping the mobile number requirement has failed for Gmail, marking a hike in spam.

“In an effort to protect our users from abuse, we sometimes ask users to prove they’re not a robot before they’re able to create or sign in to accounts. Having this additional confirmation via phone is an effective way to keep spammers from abusing our systems,” the website said.

Google has also decided to put a limitation on the number of accounts an individual can hold from a particular phone number but did not specify the maximum number of email accounts it will allow for one person.

While for Gmail a person can give either telephone or mobile number, for a new Yahoo it is now mandatory to have a mobile number.

“At Yahoo, we are committed to the security of our users. We ask our users to provide their mobile number at registration as a secondary means of authentication, in addition to their password. We would only use the number if we see any unusual activity on the account,” Yahoo spokesperson said.

Internet Service Providers Association of India, in the meantime, have opposed to this, stating making telephone number mandatory for having an email address could infringe the privacy of an individual.

“This is an attack on user’s privacy. This should not happen. If they (Gmail and Yahoo) are doing such a thing, then this must be recognised by Indian government on how they are collecting phone numbers,” ISPAI President Rajesh Chharia said.

AW: Suchorita Choudhury