Google has recently announced an update to its Inactive Google Account Policy, which will result in the deletion of millions of inactive accounts that have been untouched for at least two years. This move aims to address the security risks associated with abandoned accounts. So, Let’s delve into the details of Google's revised policy and its implications for users.
Google decides to delete any account that has two years of inactivity. See how they decide to go about it.
It’s not the first time. Besides, they won’t even let you log into old accounts that don’t have recovery emails and real names set. I lost a couple of really good usernames from the beta era after they rolled out all of their account protection practices. A password isn’t good enough for Google.
They wouldn’t let me log into a couple of accounts despite having the password, saying that I hadn’t used it for awhile and they couldn’t verify I was the account owner. Since there was no recovery email set, which was intentional because it was supposed to be an anonymous account, and none of the other information I set was real, they said they can’t verify me and won’t let me log in. They’re pretty insistent that passwords alone aren’t acceptable, even when you use all of your real information. Go try to log into Google on a new device from a new location and see what a huge PITA it is.
Ah; that explains it; I have multiple accounts cross-linked as recovery accounts. Sounds like I’ll be fine as long as I don’t run afoul of their “inactive” rules.
It was disappointing. I had uber1337 and lost it due to them refusing to let me log back in. That name doesn’t mean much now, but it was pretty l33t back then.
Edit: I guess it’s actually a pretty stupid name now that there’s a taxi company named Uber. Cool, I just made peace with losing that account. Haha!
They can leverage these terms if they want to. For example you’re also only allowed to have one account per person.
Wasn’t it the Terraria dev who got his account locked and they used that as an excuse as to why he was locked out of his account? They said he had too many accounts or something?
I do only have one account with them now. They’re a terrible platform these days if you want an anonymous spam account. They were good back in the day because they offered 10x the storage as everyone else, and we hadn’t fully comprehended the scope of their snooping. My only email address with them now is used as a corporate spam address, since it’s completely overrun with spam anyways, after 20+ years of use.
It’s not the first time. Besides, they won’t even let you log into old accounts that don’t have recovery emails and real names set. I lost a couple of really good usernames from the beta era after they rolled out all of their account protection practices. A password isn’t good enough for Google.
They’ve got a “real names” rule?
They haven’t applied it against the online pseudonyms I’ve been using for the past 30 years. Thankfully.
They wouldn’t let me log into a couple of accounts despite having the password, saying that I hadn’t used it for awhile and they couldn’t verify I was the account owner. Since there was no recovery email set, which was intentional because it was supposed to be an anonymous account, and none of the other information I set was real, they said they can’t verify me and won’t let me log in. They’re pretty insistent that passwords alone aren’t acceptable, even when you use all of your real information. Go try to log into Google on a new device from a new location and see what a huge PITA it is.
Ah; that explains it; I have multiple accounts cross-linked as recovery accounts. Sounds like I’ll be fine as long as I don’t run afoul of their “inactive” rules.
It was disappointing. I had
uber1337and lost it due to them refusing to let me log back in. That name doesn’t mean much now, but it was pretty l33t back then.Edit: I guess it’s actually a pretty stupid name now that there’s a taxi company named Uber. Cool, I just made peace with losing that account. Haha!
They can leverage these terms if they want to. For example you’re also only allowed to have one account per person.
Wasn’t it the Terraria dev who got his account locked and they used that as an excuse as to why he was locked out of his account? They said he had too many accounts or something?
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/02/terraria-developer-cancels-google-stadia-port-after-youtube-account-ban/
They can enforce arbitrary rules when they need to if they wanna fuck you over; just like cops.
I do only have one account with them now. They’re a terrible platform these days if you want an anonymous spam account. They were good back in the day because they offered 10x the storage as everyone else, and we hadn’t fully comprehended the scope of their snooping. My only email address with them now is used as a corporate spam address, since it’s completely overrun with spam anyways, after 20+ years of use.