As Google’s new inactive account policy comes into play and it starts deleting accounts that haven’t been used in two years, users are getting annoyed.
Google would start deleting accounts from December that have been unused for more than 2 years. To achieve this, Google has been informing customers via email. There are users who worry about losing their data or access to services like YouTube and thus are reacting unfavorably to the decision.
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What is Google’s New Inactive Account Policy
A Google Account is considered inactive if it lasts more than two years without being used. Under Google’s new inactive account policy, if your activity is idle throughout Google for at least two years, the company reserves the right to deactivate your inactive Google Account together with all associated activity and data.
What is an Active Google Account
An active Google Account is one that is being used and the following actions may be considered activity when you sign in or when logged into your Google Account.
- Mailing someone or reading an email.
- Using the Google Drive
- Watching a Video on Youtube
- Sharing a Picture
- Installing an App.
- Google Searching
- Accessing a service or program from a third party by signing in using Google.
What happens when your Google Account becomes Inactive
Your Google Account, which is considered inactive, will get all of its content and data erased if it hasn’t been used in the last two years. Google will provide you with the following options before this occurs to take action in your account.
- Notifications are sent to your Google Account through email
- Notifications are sent to your recovery email if one exists.
Reasons For Google’s New Inactive Account Policy
According to Google, the new rule aims to strengthen security and stop attackers from acquiring control of accounts that have been abandoned. A CNBC report states that some customers are not pleased by this argument and have criticized Google for being ambiguous, aggressive, and dishonest.
For example, one user, the CEO of the Canadian design company Pause and Effect, Sabrina Meherally, said in a post on LinkedIn that she received the email with the unclear subject line “Updating our Google Account inactivity policy.” She claimed that it was easier for her to miss or delete the email and advised that Google inform people with a banner on its search engine.
Moreover, Google stated that customers would receive repeated notifications before their accounts are deleted and will be given the choice to either keep their accounts active or download their data. Schools and corporations that use Google accounts or that pay subscription fees for things like extra storage are exempt from the regulation. Additionally, in its blog post, the company said the standard 15GB space should be sufficient for 80% of account holders for at least three years.
Although Google has provided its own justifications for the deletion of inactive accounts, the real reason for this move may be the company’s emphasis on efficiency during the current economic slump. We know that Google has fired thousands of workers in the last year to reduce costs. Also, as the company incurs costs for accounts that use less than 15GB of storage, the corporation now seems to be freeing up its servers.
Conclusion
Thus, Google’s new inactive account policy is designed to enhance security and protect your account from potential threats.
Don’t let ambiguity hinder you—act today and stay informed about your account’s status through email notifications. Are you staying in control of your digital life?
