diff --git a/message/amd/src/message_area.js b/message/amd/src/message_area.js
index ad18ca89fef..353f2607464 100644
--- a/message/amd/src/message_area.js
+++ b/message/amd/src/message_area.js
@@ -152,15 +152,6 @@ define(['jquery', 'core_message/message_area_contacts', 'core_message/message_ar
             return this.node.find(selector);
         };
 
-        /**
-         * Returns the ID of the logged in user.
-         *
-         * @returns {int} The user id
-         */
-        Messagearea.prototype.getLoggedInUserId = function() {
-            return this.node.data('loggedinuserid');
-        };
-
         /**
          * Returns the ID of the user whose message area we are viewing.
          *
diff --git a/message/classes/output/messagearea/message_area.php b/message/classes/output/messagearea/message_area.php
index c6d8883f72b..514dfde5e99 100644
--- a/message/classes/output/messagearea/message_area.php
+++ b/message/classes/output/messagearea/message_area.php
@@ -65,10 +65,7 @@ class message_area implements templatable, renderable {
     }
 
     public function export_for_template(\renderer_base $output) {
-        global $USER;
-
         $data = new \stdClass();
-        $data->loggedinuserid = $USER->id;
         $data->userid = $this->userid;
         $data->contacts = $this->contacts->export_for_template($output);
         if ($this->messages) {
diff --git a/message/templates/message_area.mustache b/message/templates/message_area.mustache
index 8a642c068a0..3fc753104bd 100644
--- a/message/templates/message_area.mustache
+++ b/message/templates/message_area.mustache
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<div class="messaging-area-container" data-loggedinuserid="{{loggedinuserid}}" data-userid="{{userid}}">
+<div class="messaging-area-container" data-userid="{{userid}}">
     <div class="messaging-area">
         <div class="row-fluid">
             <div class="span3 contacts-area" data-region="contacts-area" role="tablist">