PRESS RELEASE: Advocates and child development experts urge Google to halt Gemini AI chatbot rollout to young children, request FTC investigation

WASHINGTON D.C. — A broad coalition led by EPIC and Fairplay is launching a campaign today to stop Google’s rollout of the Gemini AI companion to young children. The campaign includes a request for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google for violating children’s online privacy law, and a letter to Google urging the company to halt the rollout.

Earlier this month, Google announced plans to release a version of Gemini to children under 13 years old. This decision poses serious privacy and online safety risks to young children and likely violates the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). 

In response to the substantial harm that AI chatbots like Gemini pose to children, and the absence of evidence that these products are safe for kids, the coalition sent two letters today. The first letter is addressed to Google CEO Sundar Pichai asking the company to reverse its decision to offer Gemini to children under 13. The second letter to the Federal Trade Commission asks the FTC to investigate whether Google has violated COPPA with its rollout of Gemini to children under 13.

The letters detail how young children are especially vulnerable to misinformation and manipulation from AI systems like Gemini. AI chatbots like Gemini also pose serious risks to children’s mental health and social development, as young users may develop a psychological dependence or rely on AI chatbots for untrustworthy information, parasocial companionship, or emotional support.

Both letters also emphasize that Google should not unfairly shift all responsibility onto parents. While parental involvement is a key component of children’s online safety, the companies creating and financially benefitting from these highly complex systems are the ones who best understand their products and are in the best position to take meaningful action on safety, fitness, and compliance with legal obligations, including COPPA.

Read the letters to the FTC and to Google.

Organizations joining the effort include the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG); The Anxious Generation Campaign; Design It For Us; Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy, and Action; Tech Transparency Project; Parents Together Action; and many others.

Experts signing the letter to Google include social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt; Sherry Turkle, MIT Professor and author of “Alone Together” and “Reclaiming Conversation”; and Fordham Law Professor Zephyr Teachout. 

“Shame on Google for attempting to unleash this dangerous and addictive technology on our kids,” Fairplay Executive Director Josh Golin said. “Gemini and other AI companion bots are a serious threat to children’s mental health and social development, as well as their online safety and privacy. If Google insists on moving forward with a technology it admits may not be safe for kids, the FTC must hold them accountable.”

“Google must suspend its high-risk rollout of Gemini to young children,” EPIC Counsel Suzanne Bernstein said. “If Google wants to market its products to children, it is Google’s responsibility to ensure that the product is safe and developmentally appropriate for those children, which it has not done.”

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About Fairplay

Fairplay is the leading nonprofit committed to helping children thrive in an increasingly commercialized, screen-obsessed culture, and the only organization dedicated to ending marketing to children. Fairplay works to enhance children’s well-being by eliminating the exploitative and harmful business practices of marketers and Big Tech. Learn more at https://fairplayforkids.org.

About EPIC

EPIC (the Electronic Privacy Information Center) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit established in 1994 to protect privacy, freedom of expression, and democratic values in the information age through advocacy, research, and litigation. EPIC regularly advocates for privacy safeguards for minors online and participates as amicus to help judges understand how to evaluate constitutional challenges to data and design regulation. Visit epic.org for more information.