Use It or Lose It - Inactive Accounts Face Imminent Deletion

Use it or lose it: Google to delete inactive accounts

Google has announced that it will delete accounts that have been inactive for a minimum of two years, urging users to take action or risk losing their accounts.

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Effective immediately, Google's updated policy aims to mitigate security risks by deleting inactive accounts. However, the actual deletion process will commence in December. The company plans to issue multiple warning notifications to users and conduct the deletion in phases.

The first wave of deletions will target accounts that were created but never used again by the account holders, according to Google. Notably, this policy only applies to personal accounts, while organizations such as schools and businesses will be unaffected.

Google's decision is based on internal findings indicating that older accounts are more likely to have reused passwords and lack updated security measures like two-step verification, making them more vulnerable to breaches.

Google takes it a step further by deleting inactive accounts to address vulnerabilities such as phishing, hacking, and spam.

This decision expands on an earlier policy where Google stated that users' content would be wiped from unused services but their accounts would remain intact.

To preserve your account, simply log in to your Google account or any Google service and engage in activities like reading an email, watching a video, performing a search, or any other relevant action.

Google Trust & Safety is a division within Google that focuses on ensuring user safety and security across various Google products and services. The primary goal of Google Trust & Safety is to create a secure and trustworthy environment for users, protecting them from various online threats such as spam, phishing, malware, and other forms of abuse.

Google employs a range of measures and technologies to safeguard user data and privacy. This includes encryption protocols, advanced authentication methods, and regular security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, Google has strict policies in place to combat abusive behavior, hate speech, and illegal content on its platforms.

Google also provides users with tools and settings to manage their privacy and control the information they share. This includes options to customize privacy settings, control data sharing, and manage the visibility of personal information.

Overall, Google Trust & Safety is committed to maintaining the trust of its users by prioritizing their safety, security, and privacy in the digital ecosystem.