Child safety group urges schools to disable Google AI Search features
A report by Common Sense Media says Google’s AI-powered Search poses significant risks for students, prompting advocates to call for schools to turn off the feature or drop Google products altogether.
A recent study by child-safety organization Common Sense Media found that Google’s AI-enhanced Search, known as AI Mode, presents an "unacceptable risk" for K-12 learners. The report recommends that schools either disable the AI function or stop using Google Search until the company provides a way to turn the feature off for education accounts.
Robbie Torney, senior director of AI programs at Common Sense Media, said Google is a dominant player in both search and education, noting that the company’s AI tools are integrated into widely used products such as Chromebooks and Google Workspace for Education. Researchers have identified that AI Overviews can repeat misinformation and that the AI often completes homework tasks, raising concerns about academic integrity and the potential for students to be misled.
"They are infusing AI in developmentally inappropriate ways through Search," said Amanda Bickerstaff, deputy director of AI for Education, adding that there is no justification for children of any age to receive AI-generated answers from a search engine.
Google currently does not allow administrators to disable only the AI components while keeping standard search functional, meaning that students can still encounter generative AI content during schoolwork. Parents can block Google.com entirely, but doing so would also remove access to the broader suite of Google educational tools.
In response, Google stated that the Common Sense Media testing was limited and not an effective measure of product safety, while maintaining that the AI Search experience is consistent across consumer and education accounts.
Advocates such as David Monahan of Fairplay for Kids and Anya Meksin of Schools Beyond Screens argue that the risks—including exposure to disinformation and potential mental-health harms—warrant a moratorium on AI use in classrooms and, if necessary, the termination of Google contracts.
Legal experts note that schools could face liability similar to cases involving other Alphabet platforms, underscoring the urgency for districts to seek stronger controls or consider alternative providers.