New York City – In a significant move, Google has begun the process of removing personal accounts considered inactive as of December 2023. This policy targets accounts not accessed for a minimum of two years, leading to the potential deletion of associated emails, documents, photos, and other content.
According to World Economic Forum, this measure is primarily a response to security concerns. The company points out that inactive accounts are often less secure, lacking in updated security features like 2-step verification, and are more susceptible to cyber threats such as phishing scams and identity theft. These accounts are frequently maintained with outdated passwords, increasing vulnerability.
The issue of cybercrime is increasingly pressing, with a report from Microsoft revealing a tenfold increase in password-based attacks in 2023. The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2023 underscores this trend, placing cybercrime among the top global risks both currently and in the future.
Google is not alone in addressing this challenge. Other technology giants, including Microsoft and Facebook, enforce similar policies necessitating regular account activity. X, previously known as Twitter, has also announced plans to purge accounts lacking activity over several years.
The conversation around digital legacy and data policies has intensified following these announcements. Google, for instance, faced concerns about the potential loss of significant historical content, especially on platforms like YouTube, though it has clarified that such content will not be automatically removed.
Experts, as noted in MIT Technology Review, expect more data deletion policies in the future. These measures aren’t just about security; they also have potential environmental benefits by reducing the data storage footprint, which is a growing concern in the context of climate change.
Google emphasizes that its updated inactive account policy, focusing on personal accounts, is part of its broader commitment to user security, supplementing other investments in cybersecurity tools and technology. The World Economic Forum Centre for Cybersecurity highlights the need for increased cyber resilience across industries, emphasizing cooperative efforts to tackle systemic cybersecurity challenges.
Ahead of the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook report in January 2024, cybersecurity experts suggest practical steps for individuals to protect their accounts, including regular password changes, using complex passwords, avoiding predictable information, and not reusing old passwords across multiple sites.
The spotlight on unused accounts serves as a reminder to review and manage digital footprints proactively.