New policy: Samsung irretrievably deletes inactive accounts
Samsung wants to start irretrievably deleting user accounts that have not been used for a long time in a few weeks. It will start on July 31.
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Samsung is introducing a new policy for inactive user accounts to protect the data of users who have not used their account for an extended period of time.
According to the company, the regulation will come into force on July 31, 2025. From this date, Samsung accounts that have not been used for 24 months will be considered inactive and deleted.
To inform customers about the new regulation, Samsung has started sending emails to its customers. One user has published the content of the mail in der Samsung-Community. It states that once an account is deleted, users will no longer be able to access it and all data will be irretrievably deleted.
"However, there are some exceptions, as certain data may be retained 'in accordance with local legal requirements and applicable legislation'," it continues.
When is a Samsung account considered inactive?
In a Support-Dokument Samsung explains when an account is considered active and what exceptions there are. The former is quite clear: an account is considered active if it is newly created, the user performs a login or uses a service or product while the user is logged into the Samsung account.
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Exceptions include, for example, accounts that are linked to a Samsung family account –, regardless of whether you are registered as a "family organizer, general member or child". Exceptions also apply to users who have collected and redeemed Samsung Rewards points or have a valid pending benefits date on their Samsung membership.
According to the manufacturer, inactive accounts will not be deleted without prior notice. Before final deletion, users will receive a notification to their email address "to prevent unintentional deletion". If users receive such an email and wish to keep their Samsung account, they should take action.
Samsung is not the first company to set up such a policy. Google had already carried out a deletion campaign for orphaned accounts in 2023.
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