• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, 4 hours ago

The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and children's advocacy group Fairplay this morning called on Google to suspend the rollout of its Gemini AI chatbot to young children.

The call follows Google's May 2 announcement that it plans to release a version of the AI chatbot to children under 13 years old.

In a letter sent to Google chief Sundar Pichai, the advocacy groups assert Google's decision poses serious privacy and online safety risks to young children and likely violates the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

In a second letter sent to the Federal Trade Commission, the groups asked the agency to investigate whether Google has violated COPPA with its Gemini rollout to children under 13. 

“Shame on Google for attempting to unleash this dangerous and addictive technology on our kids,” Fairplay Executive Director Josh Golin said, adding: “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.”