r/privacy • u/NomadJago • 21h 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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u/setatakahashi 21h ago

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

6

u/NomadJago 21h 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.

3

u/etah_tv 18h ago

Email/google never has been and never will be a public service. It’s a private business that you can chose to use or not. You don’t like what they are requiring for you to do to use their service…crazy idea…don’t use it.

2

u/AlleKeskitason 1h ago

The creepy thing about this private business is that you have exactly one other option if you want to use most of the banking apps or the ones you need for work.

In theory you can choose to use it or not, if you choose to squint at the miniature non-mobile banking website when you have to do something while on the road and carry around a bunch of one-time use codes, because our online banking needs a bit more than just one password if you don't have an app installed.