Judge reviews Google's request to dismiss student data tracking lawsuit
A federal judge heard arguments Thursday over a motion by Google to dismiss a class-action lawsuit accusing the tech giant of collecting and monitoring K-12 student data without parental consent.
The suit, filed by the parents of four children, targets Google’s Chromebooks, Chrome browser, and its Google Workspace for Education suite, which includes apps such as Google Classroom, Gmail, and Google Drive. Attorneys for the plaintiffs said the company gathers extensive metadata from every interaction with these products, including device details, network settings, and app usage.
The lawsuit, filed in April in federal court in San Francisco, alleges Google exposed children to “serious and irreversible risks” by harvesting personal information in violation of the Fourth Amendment, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, and California privacy law. U.S. District Chief Judge Richard Seeborg questioned both sides about Google’s role in schools, probing whether the company acts solely as a service provider or exercises broader control over student data.
Google’s attorney argued the complaint was too vague and procedurally deficient, noting it did not specify which schools or products were used or what data was collected. Plaintiffs’ attorney countered that the widespread use of Google products and the “gross asymmetry of information” prevent parents from knowing exactly what data is gathered, but confirmed the children were enrolled in schools using Google services.
The lawsuit argues that modern education technology has shifted control of student data away from parents, allowing Google to use it for commercial purposes. Parents are effectively compelled to consent because students must use the products in school, according to the plaintiffs. Google, citing federal guidance, maintains that consent from schools satisfies the requirements of COPPA.
Plaintiffs contend that Google’s practices undermine parental rights and privacy, with attorney Julie Liddell asserting that the surveillance of children—both at school and at home—presents a constitutional concern. Google provided privacy statements and terms of service as part of its defense, noting that more than 50 million students use Chromebooks and 170 million use Google Workspace for Education.
The court has yet to rule on whether the case will proceed.
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