Sen. Warren wants to know what Google Gemini’s built-in checkout means for user privacy

Feb 04, 2026 07:00 PM - 4 months ago 110077

Emma Roth

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, user tech, crypto, societal media, and overmuch more. Previously, she was a writer and editor astatine MUO.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is pressing Google for much accusation astir its plans to build a checkout characteristic into its Gemini AI chatbot. In a missive to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Warren expresses concerns that the integration could let Google and retailers “to utilization delicate personification data” aliases “manipulate consumers into spending much and paying higher prices.”

Last month, Google announced that it will soon let users to bargain products straight wrong Gemini done the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), a modular it developed successful business pinch Shopify, Target, Walmart, Wayfair, and Etsy. The UCP is expected to make it easier for AI agents to pass pinch retailers, but Warren wants to cognize conscionable really overmuch personification accusation — and what kinds — Google plans connected providing to retailers done this pipeline.

“Google already possesses unprecedented troves of personification hunt and AI chat data, and specified friendly information could beryllium merged pinch some personification information from different Google services and third-party retailer information to thrust user behaviour successful an exploitative manner,” Warren writes, while besides questioning whether Google will prioritize shopping results from unit partners complete competitors.

Warren adds that the institution has already admitted that it will usage “sensitive information to thief retailers upsell consumers into buying a much ‘premium’ product.” The missive cites a reply from Google connected X successful which it clarified that retailers will beryllium capable to “show further premium merchandise options that group mightiness beryllium willing in.”

In summation to a bid of questions astir personification privacy, Warren is asking Google for accusation astir really personification information will impact pricing, arsenic good arsenic whether it will pass users erstwhile Gemini suggests a merchandise “based connected upselling objectives, advertizing incentives, aliases delicate personification data.” Google has until February 17th to respond.

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