Suppose Google blocks your account tomorrow. What are the consequences? This is how you prevent your Google account from being blocked.
Google may block your account
It depends a bit on how deep you are in the Google ecosystem, but for many people the consequences of an account block are enormous. After all, Alphabet, the parent company, has penetrated all facets of our lives. Think of popular services such as Drive, Gmail and YouTube.
The common factor between all these apps is that you need a Google account to use all the features. This hub also provides access to apps and services from other companies. When creating a profile, you can often choose to ‘Sign in with Google’, the tech giant’s login service.
As the owner, Google has the final say over user accounts. The terms of service state that if the rules are violated, accounts may be temporarily suspended, terminated, or completely deleted.
Here, Google refers to the specific rules of conduct that apply to apps and services within the Alphabet universe, such as the Android operating system, Android Auto and the Chrome browser.
The terms of service also state that Google may suspend accounts if it believes that your behavior is damaging to other users, third parties, or Google itself.
Practice is stubborn
Sounds reasonable, right? Anyone who uses a Google service must adhere to their house rules. If you don’t, you’ll have to pay the price. It’s quite logical that Google can take action against people who use their products and services with malicious intent. Think of people who bully others (online) or spread malware.
However, there is also a downside to these terms of service. The tricky thing about such rules is that they are formulated in very general terms and therefore leave room for all kinds of interpretations. As a copywriter, I know that when you present the same text to multiple people, there is a good chance that each reader will get something different out of it.
Furthermore, all decision-making power lies with Google. The company can therefore suddenly decide to suspend a user account, without you having the chance to defend yourself. You can only do that afterwards, after the Google account has already been blocked.
Moreover, experience shows us that it is very difficult to challenge a decision by Google. Alphabet is a faceless company and try to get hold of the right person.
‘Google is hard to reach’
This is evident from a sensational report by The New York Times. The American newspaper writes about a father who had taken photos of his son’s genitals at the request of his family doctor. The doctor needed these images to make a diagnosis and prescribe medication. A course of antibiotics solved the problems of the sick son.
Dad just got another problem. According to Google’s automatic scanning system, he was guilty of making sexually suggestive images. This is against the terms of service. His Google account was blocked as a result.
The father immediately appealed and went to the police. After investigation they concluded that there was no criminal offense, because of the context in which the photos were taken.
The father then approached Google to get his account back, but was refused. According to him, Google is very difficult to reach and does not respond to his request. Only when The Times When questions were asked the father responded.
A Google block over a thumbs up emoji
Google accounts can also be blocked for less serious reasons. A few years ago, dozens of YouTube viewers were locked out of their profiles because they were allegedly guilty of spamming, bombarding others with messages without asking.
Markipliera YouTuber, asked his audience to place as many emojis as possible in the chat during a live stream. Many viewers responded and placed things like thumbs up and hearts. After the live stream, dozens of them discovered that their Google account had been blocked.
YouTube eventually acknowledged that this was a mistake and that the blocks had been issued automatically. However, it took the company several days to correct its mistake and lift the blocks. Moreover, this only happened after the livestreamer in question stepped in and publicly called YouTube out.
A Google block has major consequences
You probably don’t think about it much, but your Google account is very important. As soon as you lose access to this profile, your Android phone will no longer function properly. You can no longer download apps, you can no longer receive emails, and many apps and services will no longer function properly or at all.
If Google blocks your account, you will no longer be able to use other Alphabet services. The official Google website has a complete overview of their products, but consider:
- Gmail
- Google Messages
- Google Docs
- Google Drive
- Google Photos
- Google One
- Google Play
- Google Wallet
Not only will you lose access to the service(s); in many cases, you will also lose access to the stored personal data. Important documents in Drive will be inaccessible, as will personal photos and videos in Photos and emails in Gmail.
Google writes on its website that you “may” still be able to download user data if your account is blocked, but makes no promises.
Recover Google Account: How to Unblock Your Account
It should be clear: a Google account block is very annoying. If you (in your opinion) have ended up in this bitter situation unjustly, you would be wise to appeal as soon as possible.
Whenever you try to sign in to a Google service (such as Gmail, Drive or Photos) you will be told why the account has been temporarily suspended. You can then appeal directly. Did you accidentally dismiss the message? Then start the appeal procedure via the Google website.
Then it’s a matter of following directions. State why you think the Google block is unjustified and provide supporting evidence if necessary.
Google will then determine whether your objection is justified and the block may be lifted. Please note: if you do not object, your Google account (including all associated data) will eventually be deleted.
Prevent Google blocking
As mentioned before, most Google users will never experience a block. So the risk is small, but the potential consequences are huge. Google’s terms of service are vague and open to interpretation. Furthermore, many users are deeply involved in the Google ecosystem.
Therefore, prevention is better than cure in this situation. Don’t put all your eggs in the Google basket. Back up precious photos and videos outside of Google Photos, don’t store important files only in Google Drive, and make sure important emails can be viewed outside of Gmail.
You might even consider creating multiple Google accounts. For example, you could create a profile for smart home devices, including Chromecast and Google Nest Audio, and files. Of course, this takes away the convenience of a single Google account, but it does reduce your risk.
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Source: www.androidplanet.nl
