Does a telephone number identify a person?¶

A telephone number identifies a communications service or routing address at a particular time, not automatically the human user. It can still link accounts, devices, subscriber records and events when its history is established.

Numbers move between services and users¶

Numbers can be ported, reassigned, forwarded or provided through virtual services. A personal, family or business subscriber may differ from the person controlling the device or linked messaging application.

Preserve the complete international-format number, provider or service, event time and source. Obtain allocation and porting history for the relevant period rather than relying on current subscriber details.

Build the user link¶

Distinguish subscriber, device, SIM or application session and actual user. Corroboration may include provider records, device possession, SIM association, logins, location, contact patterns, work records and witnesses.

Report allocation to a subscriber separately from evidence that a person made the call or sent the message. Shared, stolen or remotely accessed devices remain event-specific alternatives.