Google has recently announced a change in its account inactivity policy, stating that accounts that have not been used or signed in to for a minimum of 2 years may be deleted. This policy applies not only to the accounts themselves but also to the content stored in Google Workspace, Google Photos, and YouTube.

In a blog post, the Alphabet-owned company explained that it aims to mitigate risk by implementing this update across its products. According to Google's internal analysis, abandoned accounts are significantly more vulnerable to security threats as they are less likely to have two-step verification enabled. Compromised accounts can be misused for various purposes, ranging from identity theft to spreading unwanted or malicious content such as spam.

It's important to note that this policy only applies to personal Google Accounts and not organizational accounts. Google states that this update aligns its retention and account deletion policy with industry standards while also reducing the amount of unused personal information stored by the company.

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Starting from December 2023, inactive accounts will begin to be deleted. Google will first send notifications to the account email address and the recovery email (if provided) before taking any action. The deletion process will begin with accounts that were created but have not been used up until that point.

To keep your Google Account active, it is recommended to sign in at least once every 2 years. Engaging in activities such as sending and receiving emails, using Google Drive, watching YouTube videos, downloading apps from the Google Play Store, performing searches on Google, and signing in to third-party apps or services using your Google Account will help maintain the account's active status.

By implementing this updated inactivity policy, Google aims to enhance security and privacy for its users while aligning with industry standards regarding account retention and deletion.