Google handed free Chromebooks to schools, then used them to harvest children's data. The EFF caught Google collecting browsing histories, search results, and YouTube habits from 40 million K-12 students — through a sync feature turned on by default. New Mexico's Attorney General sued, alleging Google collected locations, voice recordings, passwords, and contact lists from children under 13. Google settled for $5.5 million — pocket change for a company worth $2 trillion. A class action alleged Google collected children's face templates and voiceprints without parental consent. Now the same company wants to replace those Chromebooks with Googlebooks running full Android plus an AI that reads every pixel on screen. Google got caught collecting children's data through Chromebooks — the EFF filed a complaint, New Mexico sued, and a class action alleged biometric harvesting of kids. Google settled for $5.5 million. Now they're giving Gemini AI to children under 13. Common Sense Media called AI companions an "unacceptable risk" for anyone under 18. UNICEF warned AI tools confuse young children. Google's response? Roll it out to 30 million children through Family Link. They promise no training on student data. They promised that with Chromebooks too. The default retention is 18 months of chat history for children who can't meaningfully consent to anything.
What they claim: Google for Education provides a safe, private environment where "student data isn't used for ad personalisation" with "advanced security and privacy features"
What we found: EFF filed FTC complaint (Dec 2015) — Google collected browsing histories, search results, YouTube habits from students via Chrome Sync (on by default on school Chromebooks). New Mexico AG Hector Balderas sued (Feb 2020) — locations, voice recordings, passwords, contact lists from children under 13. Settled $5.5M. BIPA class action alleged collection of face templates and voiceprints without parental consent. 40 million K-12 students affected across these incidents.
What they claim: Gemini for Education is "fully compliant" with COPPA, FERPA, and GDPR; "no student data is used for model training" with "no human review of student queries"
What we found: Google giving Gemini access to children under 13 through Family Link — 30 million children's accounts globally. Default chat history retention is 18 months. Common Sense Media declared AI companions an "unacceptable risk" for under-18s days before announcement. UNICEF warned AI tools "can confuse or mislead young children." New COPPA rules (April 2026) impose stricter consent. Google's track record — EFF complaint, NM lawsuit, BIPA class action — shows gap between compliance promises and actual behaviour.
What they claim: Magic Pointer "offers quick, contextual suggestions every time you point at something on your screen"
What we found: Magic Pointer reads every pixel under the cursor — emails, documents, banking details, medical records — and sends context to Google servers for processing. No prompt required. Continuous screen capture via lightweight local heuristics combined with server-side multimodal encoders. Similar scrutiny as Circle to Search but at desktop scale.
What they claim: Googlebook "designed for Gemini Intelligence" — AI integration positioned as a feature, not a data collection mechanism
What we found: Gemini apps collect 22 different types of data: prompts (written and voiced), files, photos, screens, videos, location, device information, feedback, usage patterns, and more. Human reviewers including external contractors review conversations, retained 3 years even if deleted. On Googlebook, every screen interaction, widget, Magic Pointer hover, and system function feeds through Gemini. Users cannot meaningfully opt out because Gemini IS the operating system.
What they claim: Users can control their data through Gemini Apps Activity settings with ability to "turn off" data collection and delete conversation history
What we found: Human reviewers — including third-party contractors — read Gemini conversations. Reviewed chats retained up to 3 years even if user deletes them. "Turning off" Gemini still retains data 72 hours. Default retention 18 months. Google advises: "don't enter confidential information you wouldn't want a reviewer to see."
What they claim: Googlebook is an evolution of Chromebook — same brand lineage, now "designed for Gemini Intelligence"
What we found: ChromeOS was sandboxed, browser-only OS with limited data collection vectors. Googlebook runs Android 17. Trinity College Dublin found Android sends Google 20x more data than iOS sends Apple — 1MB at startup, 1MB every 12 hours when idle. Hardware serial numbers, IMEI, SIM serial numbers transmitted. Separate TCD study found Google pre-installs tracking cookies on Android devices before any app is opened, with no consent and no way to block them.
What they claim: Users can turn off Gemini Apps Activity as a meaningful privacy control
What we found: With Gemini Apps Activity "off," Gemini still accesses apps — sends WhatsApp messages, sets timers, makes calls regardless of tracking setting. Gmail VP Blake Barnes confirmed Gemini turned on by default in January 2026. Google enabled "smart features" without consent, allowing Gemini to scan Gmail, Photos, Drive. On Googlebook where Gemini IS the OS, turning it off would disable the computer. The off switch is theatre.
What they claim: Gemini Nano offered "since 2024 as a lightweight, on-device model" powering security features "without sending data to the cloud"
What we found: Chrome silently downloaded a 4GB Gemini Nano AI model (weights.bin) onto users' machines — no opt-in, no notification, no consent. Auto-re-downloads when deleted. Snopes rated "mostly true." Violates EU ePrivacy Directive Article 5(3). Chrome's "AI Mode" pill misleads users into thinking queries are local — they go to Google's cloud.
What they claim: Open platform with devices from five OEMs (Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo), suggesting competitive ecosystem
What we found: EU preparing to force Google to give rival AI assistants equal Android access. DMA decision expected July 2026, Googlebook ships autumn 2026. Product built entirely around Gemini exclusivity — OS, Magic Pointer, widgets, Glowbar hardware LED. If EU requires equal access, product proposition collapses. If not, Google locks laptop users into single AI ecosystem controlling what they see, search, and share.