Google faces backlash for plan that would turn off Search for schools that restrict AI

Google plans to cut off Search access for schools that restrict its AI tools, a move that has drawn backlash from politicians including NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani and former FTC chair Lina Khan, who accused the company of acting as an unregulated monopoly. The dispute centers on Google's push to expand AI use in classrooms, with Search access used as leverage over school districts that limit the technology. Critics argue the policy ties a core service to adoption of newer products, sharpening scrutiny of Google's market power in education. The episode matters because it tests how far dominant platforms can bundle emerging AI offerings with established services. Watch whether school districts concede on AI restrictions or escalate the fight, and whether regulators treat the policy as a fresh antitrust concern.