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Google is making some changes
Under the umbrella of Alphabet, the tech giant is gearing up for a phased purge of inactive accounts, targeting those whose owners haven’t accessed or used them in the past two years. The initiative, set to commence as early as Friday according to a May blog post and an accompanying webpage outlining the inactivity policy, marks a significant step in Google’s effort to enhance security.
All the deets…
The company’s focus initially lies on accounts that have remained untouched since their creation. Notably exempt from this potential deletion are accounts acquired through businesses, schools, and other organizations. For personal accounts in hibernation, the company has explicitly mentioned that both the account itself and its contents within Google Workspace (including Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar) and Google Photos could face erasure.
To mitigate any surprise deletions, users are being informed, whose accounts are at risk through multiple notifications, with additional warnings dispatched to their designated recovery emails.
Maintaining activity
Google defines activity beyond mere sign-ins, encompassing actions such as reading an email, creating a Google Doc, watching a YouTube video, and conducting searches. Subscriptions to news outlets or apps linked to an account also count as qualifying activities. This move is part of an update to the inactivity policy implemented in mid-May, aimed at bolstering security measures.
The rationale behind these potential deletions lies in addressing security vulnerabilities associated with inactive accounts, which often rely on outdated or reused passwords and lack essential security features like two-factor authentication. This proactive approach aligns with its commitment to user security, as it seeks to minimize the risks associated with neglected accounts.
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