Police can ask Google for everyone who searched a specific term — it's called a "keyword warrant." By 2019, Google was processing 180 of these requests per week, each one searching the history of every Google user. In one case, police in Denver obtained the names of everyone who Googled a specific address near a crime scene. Your search history is a police database with a warrant requirement that most judges rubber-stamp. In 2004, Larry Page promised "abundant, free and unbiased access to high-quality information." In 2026, Google is replacing search results with AI answers that keep you inside Google. 75% of AI Mode sessions never leave for the open web. Human traffic to websites dropped 40% in one year. Wikipedia lost 8% of its visitors. Google isn't sending you to the internet anymore — it's replacing it.
What they claim: Search data is used only for services and relevant ads.
What we found: Keyword warrants: police get list of everyone who searched specific terms. Sensorvault: 180+ geofence warrants/week by 2019. Search history provided via standard warrants.
What they claim: Google says it organises the world's information to make it universally accessible — connecting users to websites and publishers.
What we found: AI Mode now generates answers directly, replacing links for 2.5 billion monthly users. AI-generated ads target users based on query intent processed through Google's models. Agentic search can browse, buy, and act on behalf of users — expanding data access far beyond what a search index required. TechCrunch called it "the biggest transformation in 25 years."
What they claim: Google Search respects user choice on data collection.
What we found: History stored indefinitely by default. Every query linked to account. Feeds $300B+ ad revenue. Auto-delete opt-in, buried in settings. Gemini AI processes queries. PRISM since 2009.
What they claim: Google's privacy policy states users can control how their information is used for advertising.
What we found: In March 2026, a federal judge approved a class action settlement over Google's practice of sharing user data with hundreds of third parties through real-time bidding (RTB) ad auctions. The settlement requires enhanced disclosures about RTB auctions and privacy choices. Separately, the DOJ is appealing for a Chrome sale, while Google argues its data-sharing mandate "jeopardizes user privacy" — using privacy as a shield against antitrust after years of sharing data in ad auctions.
What they claim: Google Search is a neutral information tool.
What we found: Results personalized by ad profile. Ad placement prioritizes paying customers. Gemini AI generates answers replacing organic results. Google controls what 90%+ of users see as 'the answer.'
What they claim: Google describes its advertising technology as fair and competitive
What we found: The EU fined Google €2.95 billion in September 2025 for ad tech abuse — self-preferencing in publisher ad servers and ad buying. The fine included a 60% increase for recidivism — Google has been fined so many times the penalties now include repeat-offender surcharges. The Commission signalled only divestiture would resolve the conflicts of interest. Separately, CNIL fined Google €325 million for Gmail ads and cookies placed without consent, affecting 74 million French accounts.
What they claim: Google co-founder Larry Page wrote in 2004: "We believe a well-functioning society should have abundant, free and unbiased access to high-quality information"
What we found: Google AI Mode replaces traditional search results with conversational AI responses that keep users inside Google. A Growth Memo study found 75% of AI Mode sessions never leave for the open web. Human traffic to websites in finance, publishing, and retail dropped nearly 40% between June 2025 and April 2026 (Cloudflare data). Wikipedia saw 8% decline in human visitors. Google may replace default search with AI Mode entirely, processing vastly more user data through its AI systems.
What they claim: Incognito mode provides private browsing.
What we found: $5B settlement (2024). Own engineers: 'effectively a lie.' Tracked users via Analytics, cookies. Required deletion of billions of Incognito records.
What they claim: Google presents cookie consent options to European users.
What we found: CNIL fined Google €325 million for inserting ads in Gmail without consent and using a biased cookie consent design — 6 clicks to refuse cookies, 2 to accept. 74 million accounts were affected. This was Google's third CNIL cookie fine (after €100M in 2020 and €150M in 2021). Three fines. Three violations. Each time Google was caught using design patterns that made accepting cookies easier than refusing them. The fines total €575 million across three actions and Google still makes rejecting cookies harder than accepting them. The cost of cookies is now a line item in Google's legal budget.
What they claim: Google describes Search as the most helpful way to find information
What we found: In September 2025, Judge Mehta ruled Google maintained an illegal search monopoly. Remedies prohibited exclusive contracts for Search, Chrome, Assistant, and Gemini. Google was required to share its search index with rivals. The DOJ cross-appealed seeking Chrome and Android divestiture. The company that controls 90% of search was found to have achieved that dominance through illegal means.