- Google changes its storage policy for new Gmail accounts
- New accounts in some regions will only get 5 GB of free storage space
- Adding a phone number will unlock the standard 15GB room
For many years, Google has given users 15GB of free cloud storage space when they sign up for Gmail (which is actually shared between Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Drive), but a change to that policy is now being tested.
Google has confirmed to Android Authority that it is “testing” a new approach in “select regions” where new users only get 5GB initially. It then increases to the full 15GB once the account owner adds a phone number to their data.
This is only for new accounts, only in certain parts of the world, and just a test (for now): if you already have a Google account, nothing will happen to your 15 GB of free storage for Gmail and other Google services.
The move “will help us continue to provide high-quality storage service to our users, while encouraging them to improve their account security and data recovery,” Google says. It seems that Google wants to be able to better verify the identities behind the accounts and, of course, at the same time collect more data about its users.
Paying with your privacy
Gmail now offers 5 GB free if you sign up without a phone number from r/degoogle
Officially, Google doesn’t require a phone number when you create a new account, although if you search the web you’ll find that it sometimes insists that a number be registered. It’s not clear exactly why, but the requirement may go into effect if Google’s systems suspect some type of fraudulent activity or spam.
The new approach means adding a phone number isn’t mandatory, but if you do you’ll only get a third of the free storage. The change was originally reported by PiunikaWeb based on a Reddit thread from a user who hit the throttling.
The reactions in that thread are as negative as you’d expect: one commenter suggests that Google has moved to “the ‘bribe for your data’ stage,” while another says that “you’re paying for your privacy” if you sign up for Gmail.
This comes against the backdrop of a broader crackdown on age verification in technology, with an increasing number of apps and websites asking users to confirm they are who they say they are, apparently to increase user security and safely isolate adult content.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds.
The best laptops for all budgets
