The digital infrastructure of public education in Catalonia has been gradually served by the multinational Google since 2010, without prior tenders or competitions. Google, a part of Alphabet, ranks third among the most valuable companies in the world in terms of stock market value, after Apple and Microsoft, and before Saudi Aramco, Amazon, and Facebook. Alphabet’s market capitalization is $1.93 trillion, with Google being the division dedicated to advertising, considered the largest advertising agency in the world.
Google AdWords is the company’s core service, a platform for advertising bidding where advertisers bid on keywords to have their ads appear prominently in Google search results. Other satellite platforms, such as Google AdSense, are also used for advertising purposes. Google’s appeal lies in its traffic, data, and access control capabilities. In Spain, 96% of internet searches are conducted through Google, making it the gateway to the internet for most users.
The G Suite for Education, now known as Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals, offers basic digital infrastructure for schools, including email, collaborative work environments, storage space, task submission and evaluation features, and secure data servers. The adoption of Google technologies in Catalan schools has been gradual but unstoppable, especially accelerated during the pandemic.
However, the use of G Suite for Education raises concerns about data privacy and the influence of a corporate entity in the education system. The integration of Google technologies in schools means the conversion of various information into data stored on the company’s servers, including academic work, personal interactions, and private information. This data collection raises questions about privacy, especially when it involves minors.
The collaboration between the Department of Education and Google has sparked criticism from the educational community. While some teachers appreciate the convenience of Google services, others raise concerns about the monopolization of digital education by a single company. Families have varying reactions to the use of Google in schools, with some accepting it pragmatically and others questioning its implications.
The Department of Education’s collaboration with Google has been criticized for prioritizing convenience over privacy and data sovereignty. The lack of public alternatives and the Department’s reliance on Google for digital infrastructure highlight the need for a more responsible and democratic approach to digital education.
In response to these challenges, a group of parents and activists have proposed a plan for digital democratization in schools, emphasizing secure and sovereign servers, open-source educational tools, and digital literacy training for teachers. This initiative aims to protect students‘ digital rights and promote critical digital education.
The case of Catalonia’s digital education infrastructure reflects the tensions between tech giants, public policies, and civil society’s role in advocating for digital rights. The fight for digital rights in education is a crucial battleground, and it is essential for policymakers to address these issues responsibly and rigorously. It is time to prioritize democratic technoculture and critical digital education for the future generation.