Google to Purge Thousands of Inactive Gmail Accounts Soon; Here's What We Know

In a recent announcement by Google's vice president of product management, Ruth Kricheli, the tech giant has revealed its plans to boost user online security by purging thousands of inactive Gmail accounts.

This decision comes as a response to the growing vulnerability of forgotten or unattended accounts, which often rely on outdated or reused passwords that may have been compromised.

When Will Inactive Gmail Accounts be Deleted?

Scheduled to be gradually implemented in December, the new policy will target Google Accounts that have been inactive for two years or more.

This includes deleting content within Google Workspace, encompassing Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar, and Google Photos.

However, it is important to note that this policy update only affects personal Google Accounts and will not impact accounts associated with organizations such as schools or businesses.

An internal analysis conducted by Google has revealed that abandoned accounts are at least ten times more likely to lack essential security measures, like two-factor authentication.

These neglected accounts pose a significant risk, as they can be easily compromised, potentially leading to identity theft or becoming a platform for unwanted or malicious content, such as spam.

Which Gmail Accounts Will be Deleted First?

The account deletion process will be introduced gradually and with ample notice. Google will adopt a phased approach, starting with created but never utilized accounts.

Multiple notifications will be sent to the account's email address and recovery email before deletion, ensuring users have sufficient time to reactivate their accounts or take necessary backup measures.

How to Avoid Account Deletion

To keep a Google Account active, users simply need to sign in at least once every two years.

Various actions qualify as account activity, including reading or sending emails, using Google Drive, watching YouTube videos, downloading apps from the Google Play Store, conducting searches, or utilizing the "Sign in with Google" feature for third-party apps or services.

Existing subscriptions, such as Google One, news publications, or apps linked to the Google Account, will also be considered account activity, exempting them from deletion.

Gmail Is Not Forever?

Google's recent announcement highlights its commitment to enhancing security and emphasizes its efforts to minimize the retention of unused personal information, thereby providing stronger safeguards for user data.

However, according to Twitter user @ctbeiser, this new initiative appears to be a departure from the company's earlier promises.

In 2004, Google stated that users would never have to delete emails and could always find the messages they wanted.

The user points out that this change contradicts the previous mantra of "don't throw anything away" and "you'll never have to delete another message."

User @ctbeiser further raises concerns about the implications for users who have not used the platform for two years.

They speculate that such users may face difficulties accessing their bank accounts, retrieving old tax documents, contacting people, retrieving deleted photos, communicating with their lawyers, or even signing into government websites.