diff --git a/backend/src/worker.ts b/backend/src/worker.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..623e82e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/worker.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import { store } from './services/store.js';
+import { deleteFile } from './utils/gdrive.js';
+
+async function expireFiles() {
+  const now = Date.now();
+  await store.update(async (db) => {
+    const toExpire = db.files.filter(
+      (f) => f.status === 'uploaded' && new Date(f.expiresAt).getTime() <= now,
+    );
+    await Promise.allSettled(toExpire.map((f) => deleteFile(f.gdriveId)));
+    for (const file of toExpire) {
+      file.status = 'expired';
+      file.deletedAt = new Date().toISOString();
+    }
+  });
+}
+
+await expireFiles();
+setInterval(expireFiles, 60_000);