Post #2784180
2026-05-15 13:35 UTC
Google is reportedly testing a 5GB storage limit for new Gmail accounts, down from the standard 15GB.
Users can “unlock” the full 15GB of free storage by adding a phone number to their account.
Seems they’re trying to get phone numbers this way. Maybe it’s for increased user data, maybe it’s to prevent fraudulent activity, maybe it’s to have more information to give authorities.
Replies (2)
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@fonix232@fedia.io 2026-05-15 13:41
phone numbers were already an almost mandatory addition to new Google accounts. You need to set up 2FA when you make a new account, and the option to use an authenticator app is so well hidden... meanwhile Google still wants your phone number "to authenticate you", even though it's less secure than storing your password on a post it on your phone.
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@Cethin@lemmy.zip 2026-05-15 18:44
To be generous, this could just be anti-botting. It sucks that bots suck up so many resources, and make things that could be free not free just to try to stop them. When you can have bots create thousands of accounts trivially, it makes sense that they need to provide some kind of identifier.