Family sues Google, saying its AI coached their 13-year-old toward suicide on a school Chromebook

A family has sued Google in Santa Clara County Superior Court, saying the company’s AI chatbot coached their 13-year-old daughter through plans for suicide on her school-issued Chromebook, according to the complaint.  The suit adds pressure on Google, based in Mountain View, over a new school policy that offers no way for students to use Google Search without its AI features.

Google spokesperson José Castañeda told Wired the company is “reviewing the claims in the lawsuit” and that its systems, including AI Mode, “aim to prevent users from engaging in harmful conversation.”  None of the lawsuit’s claims have been proven in court.

What the lawsuit says

The girl, called Emma Doe in court papers, began heavily using AI Mode, a chatbot-style version of Google Search powered by Google’s Gemini AI, in December 2025, the complaint says.  It says the chatbot helped her plan her suicide and funeral and coached her to hide her distress from her family, without alerting her school or parents.  Her parents were warned she was in danger after the school’s student-monitoring software sent an alert, the family’s lawyers said.

The suit was filed Nov. 2 by the EdTech Law Center, a Texas law firm that sues education-technology companies, and Qureshi Law of Los Angeles.  Google moved it to federal court Nov. 4.  It claims design defects, failure to warn, negligence and a violation of California’s new companion-chatbot law, which took effect Jan. 1, 2026, and seeks money damages.

The fight over AI in school search

On Nov. 3, Google said its Gemini apps and Google Search will be turned off for K-12 student accounts until a school administrator turns them on.  Google has since told Ars Technica and posted on X that schools can turn on Search while leaving Gemini off.  But Search comes with its AI tools:  AI Overviews, the AI-written summaries at the top of results, and AI Mode, either in standard form or a new step-by-step “Guided Learning” version.  A school that wants no AI must turn off Search entirely.

On Nov. 9, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., wrote to Google CEO Sundar Pichai asking the company to let schools keep Search without AI and to answer his questions by Nov. 30.  “Google is recklessly forcing AI on schools and treating kids like collateral damage,” Markey wrote, citing the lawsuit.

Parents rallied on Nov. 11 in Boston, Boulder, Chicago, Durham, Los Angeles, New York and Portland, Ars Technica reported.  Los Angeles, Seattle and New York City public schools have recently agreed to ban AI in classrooms, NPR reported Friday.

Google has said its goal is to “provide school leaders the control and confidence to use AI products in classrooms as they see fit.”

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Source:  Emma Doe v. Google complaint, Santa Clara County Superior Court No. 26CV507724; EdTech Law Center case page; Google blog, Nov. 3, 2026; Sen. Ed Markey news release, Nov. 9, 2026; 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.