Google

Google has updated its policy on parental supervision for teenage users on a Family Account. It now requires parental approval before a 13-year-old can remove the supervision features from their account. Previously, the company's system would email children as they approached their 13th birthday. This email informed them of their new ability to "graduate" from parental oversight without needing permission. Parental Pushback Prompts Change The policy drew considerable criticism from parents and online safety advocates. A LinkedIn post describing the practice as "predatory ...view more

Google's AI Overviews are reportedly generating dangerously misleading health advice, causing alarm among health organizations. These AI-powered summaries of expert advice on websites have provided incorrect and sometimes harmful information for queries about critical health topics. Health charities in the UK have raised significant concerns about the potential for AI-generated search summaries to spread medical misinformation. They worry that this technology could undermine their carefully curated and expert-approved health guidance, which they have spent years developing and making ...view more

Google is introducing a new capability to its Phone application, dubbed "Expressive Calling," which gives users the ability to flag a call as important. This new function is currently being tested by some participants in the beta program for Google's Phone app. The core purpose is to provide context for incoming calls, helping the recipient understand the importance of answering promptly. When a caller chooses to label their call this way, the person receiving it will be shown a large "It's urgent!" alert. The notification, which appears when the phone rings, also ...view more

Infopackets Reader Peter K. writes: " Dear Dennis, I received this message from Google: 'You're receiving this message because your Google Account has not been used in at least 8 months. To keep your Google Account active, take a moment now to sign in. If your Google Account is not used within a 2-year period, Google may delete your Google Account and its activity and data.' No worries, but the address I received this to (ex: john@example.com ) is not a gmail account. It is one I have owned, and paid for, for many years but have not used for a while. At any rate, I logged in to Gmail using my ...view more

Details about Google's long-rumored plan to merge its computer and mobile operating systems have emerged from an unlikely source. A now-removed job listing has provided the first public confirmation of "Aluminium OS," a new system designed to bring Android to PCs. The job posting, first spotted by Android Authority, was for a product manager role to work on the new operating system. It described Aluminium as being "Android-based" and built with "Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the core." (Source: androidauthority.com ) The End of ChromeOS? The listing strongly suggests that Aluminium OS, also ...view more

Google has launched "Recovery Contacts," a new security feature made to help you get back into your account by nominating trusted friends or family to help you. It offers a safe option for when you can't use your usual methods, like a recovery email or codes sent to your phone. The system works by having a person you trust confirm it's really you. It's made to solve common problems, like losing your phone or access to a backup email, which can block you from finishing the usual security steps. How Recovery Contacts Work To use it, you must add trusted contacts ahead of time in your ...view more

A dangerous and recurring bug that prevents users from making emergency 911 calls has once again affected Google's Pixel smartphones. Multiple owners have reported that in an emergency, their phones have frozen or failed to connect to 911. This is not a new problem for the Pixel line of devices. A similar, high-profile bug caused widespread concern in 2021, which was later identified as a conflict with the Microsoft Teams application. Users Report Alarming Failures Recent complaints on platforms like Reddit describe frightening scenarios where the phones failed in a moment of crisis. Owners ...view more

Google has launched an advertising campaign targeting Windows 10 users with pop-up messages that imply the operating system is risky. The ads encourage users to switch to Chromebooks as the official end-of-life date for Windows 10 is officially here. The pop-up advertisements are said to be appearing on Google.com for those still using the decade-old operating system. The timing coincides with today's deadline, after which users will need to sign up to an extended support program if they plan on using Windows 10 past the due date. In most countries this requires a payment (cash or Microsoft ...view more

Google has confirmed it is developing a unified version of its Android operating system that will run on both smartphones and PC-style devices. It's effectively a full-blown merger of two systems: the technology behind Android and the user experience of ChromeOS, as seen on Chromebooks. The project was discussed at the Snapdragon Summit 2025, where Google's SVP of Platforms & Devices, Rick Osterloh, explained the new strategy: "We are building together a common technical foundation for our products on PCs and desktop computing systems." (Source: 9to5google.com ) Your Phone Becomes ...view more

Google has been fined nearly $3.5 billion for unfairly manipulating the online ad markets. European Commission officials said the move had harmed rival companies and may have meant higher prices on consumer products. The ruling has not only been condemned by Google but could cause diplomatic and economic disputes between the European Union and United States. The case is about advertising exchanges, which are systems where would-be advertisers and websites wanting to display ads for money are brought together. The theory is the exchanges automatically find the most efficient pairings, meaning ...view more