Technology

Not used your Google account for 2 years? Your data may be deleted forever

DailyBiteAugust 18, 2023 | 15:47 IST

Is there a Google account or Google app you have not checked in a while? You may want to pay attention to your dormant apps and/or accounts, because otherwise Google may forever delete your data stored on the dormant platforms.

Google's account deletion policy was announced earlier this year. It will start rolling out in December. Right now, Google has started implementing the policy, meaning they are sending warning emails to users to make them aware of the new rules and their dormant accounts.

Screenshot of email.

What does the policy say?

An inactive Google account is an account that has not been used within a 2-year period.

- Google

These are the conditions under which your account can be deleted:

Other than the 2-year inactivity on your Google account, inactivity on a Google product like Google Drive, Photos, etc is also subject to the data purge.

Google also reserves the right to delete data in a product if you are inactive in that product for at least two years. This is determined based on each product's inactivity policies.

- Google

But fret not, Google will send you warning emails about your inactive accounts before the purge. You can make the accounts "active" by:

Reading or sending an email
Using Google Drive
Watching a YouTube video
Sharing a photo
Downloading an app
Using Google Search
Using Sign in with Google to sign in to a third-party app or service

GIF: Google blog

Your Google account WILL NOT be considered inactive if:

If there is an ongoing subscription on the platform
If it has a gift card or monetary balance
If there are active financial transactions associated with the account if the account owns a published application or game on the Google Play Store
If it is a family account managing an active minor account
If it has been used to purchase a digital item
Your account with YouTube videos is safe for the time being as it is not included in the purge.

[ALSO READ: Canada can no longer see news on Instagram or Facebook because Meta is blocking it all]

Why is Google purging dormant accounts?

Google's VP of Product Management, Ruth Kricheli in May explained that dormant Google accounts pose a security risk.

…if an account hasn't been used for an extended period of time, it is more likely to be compromised.

- Ruth Kricheli

Usually, these accounts use old or re-used passwords that may be compromised in a leak. Most of these accounts also don't have two-factor authentication set up.

…once an account is compromised, it can be used for anything from identity theft to a vector for unwanted or even malicious content, like spam…

- Ruth Kricheli

So, perhaps log in to that Google Drive, Photos, or Gmail you created in high school if you don't want them gone.

[ALSO READ: Google is working on an AI 'life coach' which will help you make major life decisions, it seems]

Last updated: August 18, 2023 | 15:47

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