Google tests 5 GB cap for users who skip phone numbers
The Register • • general
Key Points:
- Google is testing a new policy for some new accounts in select regions that reduces free storage from 15 GB to 5 GB unless a phone number is provided, aiming to improve account security and data recovery.
- The trial is not universal; some new users still receive the full 15 GB without mandatory phone number submission, and existing users are unaffected.
- The change may be intended to prevent users from creating multiple accounts to gain additional free storage, aligning Google's free storage offering more closely with competitors like Apple and Microsoft.
- This test highlights a broader trend where tech companies may require more personal data in exchange for free services, raising privacy concerns among users.
- If implemented widely, the storage reduction could prompt privacy-conscious users to consider alternative email providers that offer more storage without demanding phone numbers.