Google to delete inactive accounts to enhance security

California: Google has announced a new policy change that will impact inactive accounts starting in December.

In an effort to enhance security and mitigate potential risks such as hacking, Google will delete accounts that have remained unused for a period of two years.

However, it's important to note that this policy only applies to personal Google Accounts and not to accounts associated with organizations like schools or businesses.

The deletion process will extend to content stored across various Google Workspace services, including Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, and Calendar, as well as YouTube and Google Photos.

Previously, in 2020, Google had stated that it would remove content from inactive accounts but not delete the accounts themselves. This updated policy marks a significant change in Google's approach to inactive accounts.

To ensure that users are well-informed about the upcoming account deletion, Google will send multiple notifications to the email address associated with the account, as well as the recovery email.

These notifications will serve as reminders and warnings before the accounts are permanently deleted.

Google's decision follows a similar action taken by Twitter, as announced by Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.

Twitter plans to remove accounts that have been inactive for an extended period and archive them, aiming to free up abandoned handles.

By deleting inactive accounts, Google aims to secure user data and minimize potential security threats associated with unused accounts.