Google is taking significant steps to modify its data retention policies, transforming how it manages user data across several of its popular services. Starting with Google Maps, the tech giant is instituting proactive measures to delete inactive users’ data, including Gmail and Google Photos, which can have widespread consequences for users who fail to engage with their accounts.
According to recent communications to users, Google is preparing to delete Google Maps Timeline data if users do not take action by varying deadlines reported to arrive between May and June of 2025. The Google Maps Timeline, previously referred to as location history, encompasses valuable information about past visits and routes. The motivation behind such drastic measures is closely tied to enhanced security protocols. Google outlined how Timeline data will be shifted from its cloud storage to user devices, where it can benefit from the built-in protections available on smartphones.
"Since the data shown on your Timeline... will be available on Maps on your computer after you move your data. To move your data to your device, download the Google Maps app," Google stated, encouraging users to act swiftly. This transition not only helps users retain their location history but also strengthens the security infrastructure surrounding personal data.
But it’s not just Google Maps users who need to pay attention to forthcoming changes. The company has also made it clear through recent policy updates, effective from 2023, all Gmail accounts and photos stored on inactive accounts—those not signed in for two years—are also at risk of deletion.
Internal assessments have revealed long-inactive accounts are prone to compromise, being “at least 10x less likely than active accounts to have 2-step verification set up,” one spokesperson noted. To prevent account deletion, Google advises users simply to sign back onto their accounts, or engage with their services through any method, including sending emails, using Google Drive, or even watching videos on YouTube.
This broad sweep of data management shows where Google stands on user security, reinforcing the notion of accountability among its users. This dual approach encourages users to not only remain active on their accounts but also safeguards data by recognizing the inherent risks posed by dormant accounts.
While Google enacts these significant policy changes on their data management, not far across the world, Iranian authorities have made related shifts concerning internet access. State media announced earlier this week the lifting of bans on WhatsApp and Google Play. This decision marks the country’s initial step toward scaling back severe internet restrictions imposed on its citizens. Under the purview of President Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Sattar Hashemi, confirmed the news stating, “Today the first step in removing internet limitations... has been taken.”
Controlling access to technology is not foreign to Iran, which has routinely imposed limitations on popular U.S.-based social media platforms. The enduring censorship has led many Iranians to seek alternative means of accessing these platforms through virtual private networks, bypassing government-imposed obstacles. With this recent development, it appears there’s at least some willingness to reconsider internet access policies and their public impact.
This decision may lead to enhanced access for citizens, particularly since social media platforms used to organize anti-government protests last year were under heavy scrutiny from authorities. The United States has previously called on major tech companies to support efforts against such internet censorship, and as Iranian authorities begin to lift certain restrictions, it remains to be seen how long this process will last.
These actions, both from Google and Iranian authorities, reflect the growing complexity of user data rights, online access, and security. They represent not just the necessity for companies to safeguard user data, but also the geopolitical ramifications of access to digital spaces.
On one hand, Google’s changes necessitate user engagement to avoid loss of personal data and to heighten security through active account management. On the other hand, the Iranian shift indicates potential openings for enhanced digital freedoms as citizens demand access to global communication networks. The intersection of these developments highlights the significance of advocacy for user rights, data protection, and the need for transparency within technology governance.