Google To Delete Inactive Accounts from 1 December

Alphabet's Google has updated its usage policy and will start deleting accounts that have not been used for at least two years from 1 December. It is reported by Bloomberg.

According to the new rules, which Google announced back in May 2023, starting from 1 December, accounts that have not been used for at least two years can be deleted.

Google explains the innovation by security issues: accounts that have not been used for a long time are more likely to be unreliable. The fact is, the company says, that "forgotten or unvisited accounts" usually have old passwords, often lack two-factor authentication, and undergo fewer security checks. As a result, these accounts can be hacked and used for spam or other malicious content, as well as for identity theft.

Account holders who are potentially deleted will initially receive several notifications from Google to the email associated with the account and to the recovery mail.

It is noted that the easiest way to keep your Google account active and thus prevent it from being deleted is to log in at least once every two years.

In addition, Google will consider the account active if the user sends or opens emails, uses the Google search engine, and watches YouTube videos while logged in. Subscriptions you set up through your Google account, including third-party app and publication profiles, may also be counted as activity.

You also need to sign in to save your Google Photos content. As previously announced by Google, Photo content can also be deleted after two years of inactivity, meaning that you should open the app from time to time to prevent images from ending up in the trash.

It is added that the inactive account update will only affect personal Google accounts that have not been used for two or more years. The company emphasises that this will not affect the accounts of organisations, such as schools or companies.

As The Gaze previously reported, Google had announced that its comprehensive office software suite would be fully compatible with the artificial intelligence-based Duet AI assistant. According to the developers' intentions, this integration will lead to increased efficiency and productivity in various aspects of work.