Google’s new storage policy will delete account data after two years of inactivity

17 December 2020
This applies to Gmail, Docs, Drive and Google Photos.

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  • i
  • irfan
  • YUU
  • 25 Dec 2020

u mean Google account auto delete account if not active 2 year

    • S
    • Safe U
    • pk5
    • 22 Dec 2020

    in any case, Google is not anonymous, because it has a server where all the information is stored. I use the utopia ecosystem, which is decentralized

      Now with cheap data storage options, one can store his or her data personally without fearing about illegal access by govt or hackers.

      Also the recent things like

      1. Exposure of images on cloud storages by hackers.

      2. Merging of Samsung storage to Microsoft storage.

      3. Unavailability of Google online apps


      Etc has created stress and tension. Add to that privacy issue, third party data access, govt tracking has created serious doubt about cloud storage.

      In my place last December, govt banned all kind of internet access (broadband, 3G, 4G everything) for 10/12 days, when massive protest was erupted after govt passed a local bill preferring the illegal immigrants.

      And trust me after 14/15 years I was completely our of reach of internet.

      It was horrible for frist 2/3 days; but then like other things e.g. death, floods, earthquake etc.

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • UCi
        • 20 Dec 2020

        abigfanoftechs, 18 Dec 2020Oh god you're changing the subject already! The artic... moreHow did the other user changed the subject?

          • N
          • NoobMaster69
          • d%t
          • 19 Dec 2020

          I agree with Anonymous. Google is one of those Brick and Mortar companies. Competition always needs to exist. The fact that they are only giving two years is wrong. Deleting data even more wrong.

          Back to hard disks I guess.

            Anonymous, 17 Dec 2020And what good will that do for Facebook? Remember that it i... moreIt's a surveillance site designed to capture more data about users.
            Security Experts have already exposed this.

              Anonymous, 18 Dec 2020Nobody is talking about cloud storage here... It about Goog... moreOh god you're changing the subject already!
              The article is about Google Storage. See the title at the top of the article.

              I'll leave it here. You're incapable of serious discussion.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • 8js
                • 18 Dec 2020

                abigfanoftechs, 18 Dec 2020Of course they made lots of money from users. It's a b... moreNobody is talking about cloud storage here... It about Google crash away the competitor during those years and now making ways to force people to pay. This falls under anti-trust.

                I have separate e-mail service that I pay, regardless of free or not, if you don't want people to use free, make a precise clear guideline which ain't what Google is doing. And Google for the longest time reap about 'one account' for all, now they want users open individual service? If so, why is Google automatically open all common service upon account creation? You can say all you want, it does NOT justify what Google is attempt in doing now.

                  Anonymous, 18 Dec 2020I'm sure Google made a lot of money with all those fre... moreOf course they made lots of money from users. It's a business with shareholders.
                  They also made money off me because I bought their Google One package.

                  Google has monopoly on search & Android apps store.
                  It does NOT have monopoly on cloud storage.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • UCi
                    • 18 Dec 2020

                    They did all they can these past years/decades to lock in/corner people by either crushing the competition or making it like they are the only choice.

                    Now they can dictate all they want since the alternatives to their services are severely lacking or look like they will fold up quick.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • UCi
                      • 18 Dec 2020

                      abigfanoftechs, 18 Dec 2020You're using their services for free. They can dictate... moreI'm sure Google made a lot of money with all those free data from us so-called insignificant users.

                        Anonymous, 18 Dec 2020Not it isn't. There's simply too many scenario wh... moreYou're using their services for free. They can dictate to you with their terms of service.
                        You MUST comply with the terms of service to receive the free service.
                        Not hard to understand.

                        I'm a paying customer when I bought their Google One package.
                        They still dictate their terms of service to me. However, they're contracted to me to provide the service I had paid for.
                        Now there are mutual obligations on both side through service contract.

                        No one is forcing you to use the free or pay services they are offering.
                        I paid because I need more storage. Amazon and other cloud providers offer similar services.
                        I chose Google One because I wanted to easily share the storage with my family.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • YUU
                          • 18 Dec 2020

                          Google you are soo frustrating.... first your app isn't working... I can't download my study material or any other informational link....now you are doing this ... stop being soo greedy.... we might always have options to switch.... I'm soo done with goggle....

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • 70d
                            • 18 Dec 2020

                            Anonymous, 18 Dec 2020I thought this policy applies to only Google Photo users ex... moreNo, it applies to every service.

                              • .
                              • .alpha
                              • q2$
                              • 18 Dec 2020

                              Remember to log into every service so Google have no excuse to delete your account. Only logging into Gmail or a few other apps give Google excuses to delete stuff you saved on other services.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • 8js
                                • 18 Dec 2020

                                abigfanoftechs, 17 Dec 2020This is a reasonable approach. If you hadn't used you... moreNot it isn't. There's simply too many scenario where a service could be used/unused and Google isn't clear on what type of activity count as 'active' or 'inactive'. I have scripts upload to Google drive which are passively running - they are in use. But I've never since, need to open or use Google drive. Do I need to repeatedly upload the scripts every two years or just to open the drive for this? That absurd!

                                This is a clear anti-trust case - using 'free' as offer to lure as many user as possible, now employ scare tactic to lure buying customers. And during the 'free' period, forcing competitor either change model, get acquired or closed down which any start-up can't compete with the size of Google. How is this any fair?

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 8js
                                  • 18 Dec 2020

                                  Anonymous, 17 Dec 2020what i'm wondering is, do i need to log into Gmail on ... moreExactly! Unclear that drives the fear tactic forcing people into buying Google One!

                                  I have scripts that are running own it own in Google Drive, but I rarely open drive.. Now, does that count as inactive? Since technically script are there to serve a purpose, but honestly, I'm not going to open up drive just to check out the scripts for fun.

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 8js
                                    • 18 Dec 2020

                                    I thought this policy applies to only Google Photo users exceed their size limit?

                                    Now Google is using fear tactic of unclear 'inactivity' policy to force people into buying Google One? Now that some anti-trust I can finally get on-board if EU decides.

                                      • J
                                      • Jeremy Deon
                                      • XR6
                                      • 17 Dec 2020

                                      Google is e v i l , there are far better free options out there now if you value your privacy.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • M@p
                                        • 17 Dec 2020

                                        what i'm wondering is, do i need to log into Gmail on a browser or is IMAP through a mail client enough to keep the account alive?