Google has already announced in 2019, under the pretext of data protection, that it will demand an annual security check of $75,000 for the connection to Gmail. This step is another example of how corporations use their market power to prevent innovation and competition. We had already reported on this at the time.
When Google claims in its email to users: “All apps listed above have not passed our required verification process…”, it is not true. We did not ask for a review, not because we are afraid of it – there are few sites that go as far as BitsaboutMe in protecting user data – but because as a free service we cannot afford the fees.
For the connection to Gmail, Google has developed its own APIs and severely restricts the usual IMAP standard for email. It allows Google to control the data exchange with the Gmail account much more. This is a goldmine for Google in profiling its users and playing out targeted advertising.
From July 2020, this restriction will also affect users who have already connected their Gmail account in 2019. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for you as a user to access your data. For Gmail, we will have to ask you to make some settings manually:
- Activate the IMAP protocol for Gmail: This is the standard protocol for email, and Google offers it as well, but deliberately makes the setup complicated for users. We explain how to do this here.
- Change your email provider: There are several alternative free email providers (Outlook, GMX, etc.) that support the IMAP protocol. You also do not have to change your entire email, but you can, for example, move your electronic receipts to a new provider and thereby also separate the receipts from your private emails.
