Google To Delete Inactive Gmail Accounts By December 1

Google plans to eliminate numerous inactive Gmail accounts as part of a cybersecurity initiative set to take effect on December 1.

Any account untouched for two years, including associated Google Workspace apps such as Drive, Docs, and Photos, may be removed.

This measure is aimed at enhancing security, as older accounts are more vulnerable to hacking due to the likelihood of relying on outdated or reused passwords, lacking two-factor authentication, and receiving fewer security checks.

Ruth Kricheli, Vice President of Product Management, emphasized Google’s commitment to user protection against security threats like spam, phishing scams, and account hijacking through investments in technology and tools.

It’s important to note that this updated policy only applies to personal accounts, with school or business accounts exempted, as announced by Kricheli in May.

Numerous notifications have been sent out to dormant accounts and their subsequent recovery emails since that time. The first ones to be targeted are those “that were created and never used again.”

For users concerned that they could face deletion, Kricheli advises that “the simplest way to keep a Google Account active is to sign in at least once every two years.”

“If you have signed into your Google Account or any of our services recently, your account is considered active and will not be deleted.”

Engaging in various activities such as reading or sending emails, utilizing Google Drive, watching YouTube videos, downloading apps from the Google Play Store, signing in to third-party services via Google, or even just conducting searches on Google are all considered actions, as stated by Kricheli.

To safeguard their images, users are required to sign in separately to Google Photos.

“If you have an existing subscription set up through your Google Account, for example to Google One, a news publication or an app, we also consider this account activity and your account will not be impacted,” the VP added.

“Additionally, we do not have plans to delete accounts with YouTube videos at this time.”

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES