Google is urging legacy users of its G Suite to upgrade to business plans, citing instances of commercial use that many users dispute. Some legacy users alleged that they have been using the free service for personal and family emails for years, arguing that the claims of commercial intent are unfounded. Several users are now filing GDPR subject access requests to restore their accounts after being flagged.
The push for upgrades follows the discontinuation of the legacy free edition for business use in 2022. According to users, they received emails instructing them to upgrade to a paid Google Workspace subscription or face a suspension of core services, including Gmail and Drive, after a 45-day appeal period. One Reddit user reported their family has utilized G Suite legacy for nearly 20 years without any commercial activities, maintaining 15 accounts under a custom family domain.
In the upgrade notification, Google emphasized that the G Suite legacy free edition is meant for personal non-commercial use. A spokesperson stated that if users are identified as using the suite for commercial purposes, the company is enforcing its policy to transition those users to paid subscriptions. Users claiming erroneous classification can file an appeal.
However, many have expressed frustration over the unclear appeals process, with some experiencing automatic denials. One user who successfully had their account restored recounted that they had to file a GDPR subject access request to obtain evidence of the alleged commercial use that led to their account being flagged.
Despite the ongoing complaints, Google has not clarified its criteria for determining commercial activity associated with legacy accounts. Affected users have shared their experiences online, lamenting the potential loss of long-held family emails and data due to the enforcement of the new policy.
