Google Accounts Deletion: Two Years of Inactivity May Lead to Losing Your Data, Says New Policy

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 16 May 2023, 09:05 pm

In a bid to enforce better security measures for the public, Google is looking to delete inactive accounts. This is in contrast to the company's previous statements saying that users may have their Google Accounts forever with all data remaining in the cloud. The company has revealed its new policy behind this and has shared ways to make one's account active to avoid said deletion.

While losing an account would not be much of a fuss if you are not using it anymore, any data or information associated or saved with it may be gone soon, including one's chosen Google email address.

Google Accounts Deletion: New Inactivity Policy is Shaking Things Up

Google has announced a new policy that aims to streamline its services and enhance user data privacy by deleting inactive accounts and their associated data. The policy will apply to various platforms under the Google umbrella, including Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, and Calendar), YouTube, and Google Photos.

Accounts that have been inactive for two years will be subject to deletion.

Starting in December, Google will initiate its crackdown on inactive accounts. This means that if an account has remained unused since December 2021, it will be among the first to be removed from Google's servers later this year. This move is part of Google's ongoing efforts to manage and optimize its data storage infrastructure while prioritizing security and mitigating its risks.

Google's crackdown will focus on accounts that were created and never used again, using a phased approach.

How to Keep Your Google Account Active?

There are a few ways that the company has suggested in keeping one's account active and avoid deletion by the end of 2023.

For starters, they may simply use their Gmail to read and send emails. If this is not applicable, then users may head on to Google Drive and use its services.

Other options include watching a YouTube video when one's account is logged in, downloading an app via Google Play with the account one is trying to keep active, using Google Search, or using Google to sign in to third-party apps.

Google's Massive Platform

Everything at Google is now linked or tied to an account, from using its search engine and browser, there would be prompts to sign in to your Google account to further improve your usage and data track. Watching YouTube also requires users to log in to their accounts, particularly if they want to view age-restricted content online, as well as use the famed Google Workspace suite.

Google has always emphasized the importance of user data privacy and security. The implementation of this new policy is in line with their commitment to providing a safe and trustworthy online environment.

By encouraging users to maintain active accounts and deleting inactive ones, Google aims to enhance user control over their data and reduce the potential for data breaches or unauthorized access.

As December approaches, users should review their accounts and take appropriate action to maintain their active status. Regularly engaging with Google's services will ensure that accounts and associated data are not inadvertently deleted.