Parents Sue Google Over Alleged Secret Surveillance of School Children

In a recent legal challenge, parents have accused Google of covertly collecting data from school children across the United States for commercial purposes. The lawsuit, which seeks to represent all affected families, claims that Google utilizes browser fingerprinting techniques to track children using Chromebooks and various cloud services, even when cookies are disabled.

Approximately 70% of U.S. schools are reported to use Chromebooks along with Google's cloud offerings, which range from email services like Gmail to collaborative tools such as Google Docs and AI-driven models like Gemini. The lawsuit contends that children, who are legally required to attend school and use these devices, are being monitored without any options to opt out, and that parental consent is not being sought.

The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for Northern California and alleges violations of both civil and criminal law, as well as constitutional rights. It argues that Google fails to obtain necessary parental consent, relying instead on agreements made with schools, which cannot substitute for parental approval.

The lawsuit, identified as Joel Schwarz et al v Google, outlines that through its services, Google continuously monitors students and extracts sensitive personal information to create detailed profiles. These profiles are purportedly used to market products and services directly to children, potentially influencing their thoughts and actions without their or their parents' knowledge.

Google's tracking methodology reportedly involves advanced techniques such as browser fingerprinting, which is difficult to circumvent. One common method, known as canvas fingerprinting, involves generating unique graphical representations based on the user's device. This process allows for the identification of users across different websites without the use of cookies.

Critics of Google argue that this practice poses serious and irreversible risks to children's privacy and autonomy. The lawsuit claims that such data collection can only be conducted legally with informed, voluntary consent from a responsible adult, which is not currently being honored, given the mandatory nature of school attendance.

Legal experts suggest that the allegations may breach several laws, including the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, which protect against unreasonable searches and establish a right to privacy. Additionally, the complaint cites violations of federal statutes aimed at protecting children's online privacy, such as the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

In light of these accusations, the plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial, classification as a class action lawsuit, and various forms of relief including injunctions, reimbursement of costs, and damages. Google has been invited to respond to these allegations, and further developments in this case are anticipated.