Google Reverses Policy On Emailing Kids How To Remove Parental Controls After Backlash
Google says it is ending its practice of emailing 13-year-olds step-by-step instructions on how to remove parental controls after backlash from parents and parental rights advocates.
The tech giant came under fire after screenshots of an email went viral on social media, with users describing the policy as “predatory” and “grooming” behavior. Kate Charlet, Google’s global head of privacy, safety and security, wrote in a LinkedIn post on Monday that the policy was being revised to allow parents to choose whether or not to remove parental controls. (EXCLUSIVE: Group of parents sounds alarm over ‘companion’ apps leading children to suicide and harming development)
“As part of our planned policy update, any supervised minor will need to obtain parental approval before they can turn off monitoring. These changes better ensure that protections remain in place until both the parent and adolescent feel ready for the next step,” Charlet said. “Our goal remains to give families the tools they need to safely navigate the digital world. »
Google did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
A 13-year-old boy poses at home as he checks social media on his tablet in Sydney on December 8, 2025. (Photo by Saeed KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Google’s frequently asked questions page still lists the old policy that allows children to “take over their account” without parental consent.
Several LinkedIn users expressed their displeasure with this policy update, saying that this should not have been the protocol for children to remove controls in the first place.
“If you wanted to empower families, you wouldn’t let kids bypass parental controls when they turn 13,” one user said.
“It’s upsetting that it took viral posts and media coverage for you to even consider this update,” said another. “Parents need to have confidence that Google will NOT exploit minors or undermine parental authority or controls the next time we turn around.”
Melissa McKay, president of the Digital Childhood Institute, which wrote the original post exposing the email, said there remain “several serious legal questions” that “need answers.”
“What legal authority, if any, supported Google’s policy of mass emailing children encouraging them to turn off parental controls without parental consent? If none existed, who approved this harmful practice?” she asked. “What other failings by Apple and Google have become normalized, such as misleading app age ratings that misrepresent security claims that conflict with documented app risks? »
“Please do not accept or normalize the predatory practices of technology companies. Many of these practices can change overnight once the right questions are asked and accountability demanded.”
Google’s old policy clung to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) as rational, which gives parents the power to collect personal information from children 13 and under in order to protect the privacy of young children. However, McKay questioned whether this law “actually allows[s] children to agree to the complex terms of service contracts required by apps and app stores, including liability, data use, and payments” and “If COPPA doesn’t turn minors into consenting adults, why do app stores treat 13-year-olds as legally capable contracting parties?”
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