Google has announced that it will delete inactive accounts that have been dormant for two years or more as a security measure. While the updated policy is effective immediately, the deletion process will begin in December. Google will send multiple warning notifications to users before purging inactive accounts in phases.
The first accounts to be deleted will be those that were created but never used again. It’s important to note that this policy only applies to personal accounts, with organizations such as schools and businesses unaffected.
Google’s decision is based on internal findings indicating that older accounts are more susceptible to security risks due to recycled passwords and outdated security measures. Phishing, hacking, and spam are among the potential issues associated with such accounts.
This approach marks a departure from Google’s previous policy, which only involved wiping content from unused services without deleting the accounts themselves.
To retain your account, simply log in to your Google account or any Google service and engage in any activity, such as reading an email, watching a video, or performing a search.
