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Google will cut off Search for American pupils whose schools reject its AI, prompting claims it wants to 'coerce schools'

Google told schools using its education platform that students blocked from AI features would also lose access to Google Search, with New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani accusing the company of using its "monopoly power to force AI into our public schools.
Google told schools using its education platform that students blocked from AI features would also lose access to Google Search, with New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani accusing the company of using its "monopoly power to force AI into our public schools.

Google told schools using its education platform that students blocked from AI features would also lose access to Google Search, because the two services are now packaged together. Chris Phillips, Google's vice president for education, unveiled the policy on Tuesday; it reverses a previous default under which Gemini was disabled automatically — the core issue being that no version of Search exists for student accounts without AI baked in.

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani accused Google of using its 'monopoly power to force AI into our public schools.'

After an immediate wave of criticism, Google said schools can enable Search without unlocking full Gemini access, although AI-generated summaries remain built into the experience regardless.

Former FTC chair Lina Khan said Google is using its search dominance to 'coerce schools' into adopting AI tools they have actively tried to block.

MoreYahoo News UKGoogle to schools: Keep our AI turned on, or lose access to Searchforbes.comGoogle Will Cut Off Search Engine Access To Schools Banning Generative AI - Forbescommondreams.org‘This Is Evil’: Critics Hammer Google Plan to Shut Off Search Access for Schools That Reject Its AIcnbc.comGoogle responds to political backlash over removing search from schools that ban AIYahoo News UKGoogle Lets Schools Turn Off Gemini, But Not the AI in Search - Yahoo Financenotebookcheck.netGoogle Search for students will soon come with AI or not at allThe IndependentClassrooms face tech nightmare as Google holds basic search hostage over AI backlashedweek.orgGoogle's New Rules Hand Schools Hard Choices About AI and Searchtechspot.comGoogle says schools that ban AI will also lose searchnewser.comGoogle Gives Schools Ultimatum on Using AIengadget.comGoogle says students in schools that ban AI wonfuturism.comGoogle Announces It's Shutting Off Search Engine Access for Schools That Ban AI
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