**Google Warns Millions of Dormant Gmail Accounts to be Permanently Deleted in December 2023**
Google has announced that millions of unused Gmail accounts will be permanently deleted in December 2023 as part of an effort to align its inactivity policy with industry norms. This means that emails, documents, spreadsheets, calendar appointments, images, and videos will all be lost from any personal Google account that has been dormant for at least two years.
The policy aims to restrict the amount of time Google retains unnecessary personal data and is in compliance with industry standards for data retention and online account termination. Google Vice President of Product Management Ruth Kricheli emphasized this update in a blog post back in May.
The main objective of the account deletions is to enhance security and protect users from online threats, such as phishing scams and account theft, especially since dormant accounts are vulnerable to hacking. However, Google assures that before any action is taken, warnings will be issued to potentially affected users, including alerts to linked recovery email addresses.
To avoid the deletion of their accounts, users are encouraged to stay engaged and use Google’s services, such as sending or receiving emails, working with Google Drive, and watching YouTube videos. The company has also committed to preserving YouTube accounts that have posted videos, regardless of when they were last used.
This announcement comes amidst Google’s legal troubles, including its second major US antitrust lawsuit in two months, involving its Play Store and alleged monopolization of Android app sales. In response to the claims, Google has refuted them, highlighting that it faces competition from other mobile and video game marketplaces.
Overall, these changes reflect Google’s ongoing efforts to enhance user privacy and security, while also addressing concerns related to its dominance in the digital marketplace. As the December deadline approaches, Google users are advised to take action to prevent losing their personal data.