Google Chrome silently installs a 4 GB AI model on your device without consent
4 hours ago
- #Privacy Violation
- #AI Model
- #Google Chrome
- Google Chrome installs a 4 GB AI model (Gemini Nano) on user devices without consent, in a directory named OptGuideOnDeviceModel, triggered automatically with AI features enabled by default.
- The installation is persistent: if users delete the model file, Chrome re-downloads it unless AI features are disabled via chrome://flags or enterprise policies, with evidence from macOS and Windows systems.
- This behavior violates ePrivacy Directive Article 5(3) and GDPR principles (lawfulness, fairness, transparency), and involves deceptive design, as the visible 'AI Mode' uses cloud services, not the on-device model.
- The environmental impact is significant: a single push of the model could emit 6,000 to 60,000 tonnes of CO2e, depending on deployment scale, with additional costs for network bandwidth and storage.
- Google should implement user consent dialogs, respect deletions, document the installation transparently, and disclose environmental impacts in ESG reports, as recommended for ethical and legal compliance.