Google has begun warning users that millions of Gmail accounts will be deleted next month as part of a major update to the platform.
This deletion includes any personal Google Accounts that have been inactive for at least two years. All digital content is permanently deleted, including emails, documents, spreadsheets, calendar appointments, photos, and videos.
Institutional accounts such as schools or companies are not covered by this policy. The policy was announced earlier this year and is scheduled to be implemented in December 2023.
Ruth Critchley, vice president of product management at Google, confirmed that the update is part of their efforts to enhance security and protect user accounts from security threats.
The goal of this step is to protect active users from security threats such as phishing and account hijacking. Old accounts that haven’t been used in years are vulnerable because their passwords could be used in other security attacks.
Any account to be deleted will also receive multiple notifications, including a dedicated account recovery email, before any action is taken.
Additionally, Google is sending emails to affected individuals to clarify that the goal of this step is to protect personal information and prevent unauthorized account access.
Losing access to a Gmail account also prevents people from using other online platforms and services associated with that email address.
To avoid account deletion, Google recommends that users activate their account while logged in by opening an email, sending a message, using Google Drive, or downloading an app from the Google Play Store
