Looks like the era of 'truly free' Gmail might be shifting. Google is reportedly testing a new policy where new accounts start with just 5GB of storage instead of the usual 15GB. The catch? You can unlock the full 15GB, but only if you link a phone number to your account. They’re framing it as a way to boost security and stop spam bots, which makes sense, but it’s definitely a blow for those of us who value privacy and don’t want to hand over a phone number just to store a few emails and photos. For now, it seems to be a trial in specific regions like parts of Africa, but it wouldn't be surprising if this goes global soon. Existing users seem safe for now, but the barrier for entry just got a bit higher. What do you all think? Is 5GB even enough for a starter account nowadays, or is this just a clever nudge to get more of our personal data? #technology #privacy