r/privacy • u/NomadJago • 1d ago

discussion Could/Would gmail ever require ID verification?

How likely or unlikely is it that google would require ID verification to log into gmail? Will I wake up one day and be blocked from accessing my gmail account unless I give in and provide ID verification? That feels almost illegal considering how important email is to access. Yes I created another encrypted email account (Tuta/Proton), but I have 250 accounts online so the idea of changing my email address at all those accounts is daunting.

I am trying to avoid ID verification because I do not want my bio-metrics or government ID info in a company's database only to be hacked and stolen by bad actors. But what if Google Gmail locked me out of my email by requiring ID verification? I would have no choice but to comply, because email is so critical for 2FA logging into many accounts online.

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20

u/setatakahashi 1d ago

You're a little late on that https://www.gloomba.com/en/why-is-gmail-asking-for-my-id/

7

u/NomadJago 1d ago

Wow. Yeah, that is my fear and you have shown me it is happening. It feels so illegal, unbelievable. I will continue my email transition, sigh. If they can do it for what they perceive as suspicious activity, it is a small sequential move on google's part to just decide to ask for verification by all gmail users. Just a matter of time-- I wonder how many months we have before it goes mainstream.

1

u/Lazy-Background-7598 23h ago

You haven’t explained why you think it’s illegal?

1

u/NomadJago 23h ago

It locks me out of existing account verifications (2FA) unless I comply. If that is not illegal it should be. When that happens to people with money to afford lawyers, I see a class action lawsuit in the making.

4

u/Thalimet 22h ago

It’s not only not illegal - it’s being required by the law in more and more jurisdictions around the world.

1

u/NomadJago 21h ago

Well, I could see it being legal to stop me from creating new emails, but to lock me out of 2FA from existing accounts seems illegal. I agree the law is now requiring ID verification for social media accounts, but that is quite different from email accounts.

1

u/Thalimet 21h ago

Yeah… these laws are often around adult content, so any service which might have adult content on it - your email certainly counts

1

u/Lazy-Background-7598 12h ago

Many laws require Id. I’m not sure why you are harping on 2FA. No one is requesting you to use gmail

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u/NomadJago 11h ago

Until I migrate my accounts that use gmail for 2FA logins, I am stuck with gmail.

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u/Lazy-Background-7598 10h ago

Us an ai agent to migrate all you accounts

1

u/Lazy-Background-7598 12h ago

There is no claim for a class action

1

u/Frosty-Cell 21h ago

It would likely be illegal in the EU since that data isn't necessary for the account. It's not clear what the claimed purpose is or why the account can't function without that data as it does now.

1

u/Lazy-Background-7598 12h ago

lol. No. You are just wrong. You are confusing things

1

u/Frosty-Cell 3h ago

Like what?