Google made an update to its policy on inactive accounts on Tuesday, stating that any account that has been inactive for two years will be deleted. However, the internet community swiftly voiced concerns about the fate of old YouTube accounts.
Within the depths of YouTube lie a treasure trove of internet history, along with accounts belonging to individuals who have passed away, leaving their loved ones desiring access to their digital archives. Recognizing the significance of these concerns, Google modified its policy to exclude the deletion of YouTube videos from the platform.
To clarify, Google amended its post to state, “We do not have plans to delete accounts with YouTube videos at this time.”
The primary motivation behind Google’s implementation of this new policy for inactive accounts is to combat fraud. The company argues that these dormant accounts are more susceptible to unauthorized access.
“Our internal analysis shows abandoned accounts are at least 10x less likely than active accounts to have 2-step-verification set up,” explained Google in its announcement. “Meaning, these accounts are often vulnerable, and once an account is compromised, it can be used for anything from identity theft to a vector for unwanted or even malicious content, like spam.”
Naturally, Google would also reduce server costs by deleting certain old uploads. However, for content stored in Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar) and Google Photos, the deletion process will not commence until December 2023. The process will be phased, starting with accounts that have been deleted and never used again. Therefore, users with old accounts have ample time to log in and ensure the preservation of their data. Google stated that activity can be as simple as using Google to log into another app. Before deleting an account, multiple notifications, including those sent to the recovery address, will be issued.
While the preservation of YouTube videos brings relief to many internet enthusiasts, it is worth noting that Google encompasses a vast amount of people’s memories, from Google Drive to Photos, implying that certain digital artifacts may be lost. Moreover, tech companies like Google and recently Elon Musk on Twitter are contemplating purging dormant accounts. These evolving policies serve as a valuable reminder to back up meaningful data and safeguard cherished memories.
