If you have an old Google account that you haven't used in a while, it may get erased this week: starting December 1, Google will begin erasing photos, videos, emails, and other data belonging to inactive accounts (accounts that haven't been accessed in at least two years).

The inactive account policy update, which Google first announced in May, applies to content within Google Workspace, including Gmail, Drive, Docs, Meet, Calendar, and Photos. Google plans to begin enforcing the updated Inactive Account Policy on December 1. The company has been warning affected users since August that their accounts are at risk of being deleted. The deletion will be done in a phased approach, and once an account is created, it will never be used again.

Ruth Cricelli, Google's vice president of product management, explained in May that the deletions are part of a security measure to protect accounts. An internal analysis found that older accounts were at least 10 times more likely to rely on recycled passwords and significantly less likely to have modern security measures in place, such as two-step verification.

"This means that these accounts are often vulnerable, and once compromised, they can be used for everything from identity theft to the mediation of unwanted or malicious content such as spam," Cricelli said.

Nevertheless, Google has made exceptions for accounts with YouTube channels, accounts with remaining gift card balances, accounts that have purchased digital items like books or movies, and accounts that have published active apps on platforms like the Google Play store. The company announced in August that it makes exceptions for certain accounts. Google's Inactive Account Policy page lists other exemptions.

If Google determines that your account has been deactivated, it will send a series of emails to both your Gmail address and your recovery email account, if one has been set up.

To ensure that your Google account is not subject to deletion, simply log into your account or the Google service associated with that account at least once every two years. Google also provides a list of other It provides a list of ways: