Google Chrome’s On-Device AI Privacy Update Sparks Debate
- Chrome version 148 removed the phrase “without sending your data to Google servers” from its on-device AI settings, which was present in version 147.
- The change was first noticed by users on the Chrome subreddit and gained attention on Hacker News, sparking privacy concerns.
- Chrome has been downloading a roughly 4GB file called weights.bin for Gemini Nano to devices without user consent or notification.
- Privacy researcher Alexander Hanff claims this behavior violates Article 5(3) of the EU ePrivacy Directive, requiring explicit consent before storing data on a user’s device.
Google Chrome’s recent update has led to privacy debates as it removed assurances that user data would not be sent to Google servers during on-device AI processing. The silent installation of Gemini Nano files further intensified concerns about user consent and data privacy.
The removal of the privacy assurance phrase and silent downloading of large files have raised questions about Google’s handling of user data and compliance with privacy regulations. (Source)
