Google is under fire after warning tech influencers that their relationship with the brand would be severed if they did not agree to highlight the new Pixel 9 over its competitors in their content.
Members of the Team Pixel influencer program were asked to “acknowledge that they are expected to showcase the Google Pixel device in place of any competing mobile device,” according to screenshots shared on X of this year’s Team Pixel deal clause for new Pixel phones, which was first spotted and verified by 9to5Google. Google unveiled its latest flagship lineup on Tuesday: the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold.
“Please note that if it appears that other brands are preferred over Pixel, we will have to terminate the relationship between the brand and the creator,” the message continued.
These provisions were only added in the latest update to the program’s terms. For the Pixel 8 and earlier, influencers were free to share their honest opinions of those Pixel devices as long as they included the hashtag #giftfromgoogle in their posts. Since their relationship with the brand was on the line if influencers preferred other phones over the Pixel 9, they had a vested interest in favoring Google in their impressions.
And here we go… here we go. Leaked screenshot https://t.co/uoFxQ6cwOt pic.twitter.com/nWwA6AumASAugust 15, 2024
And to be clear, Team Pixel's influencer program is different from the review program for members of the press. At no point was Tom's Guide asked to agree to such stipulations when reviewing the new Pixel lineup.
Acknowledging the issue in a statement to Android Police and The Verge, Google communications manager Kayla Geier said the company “missed the mark” with these additional stipulations, and it removed the “new language” from the terms of its Team Pixel agreement:
“#TeamPixel is a separate program, separate from our press and creator review programs. The goal of #TeamPixel is to get Pixel devices into the hands of content creators, not journalists and tech reviewers. We missed our mark with this new language that appeared in the #TeamPixel form yesterday, and it has been removed.”
It's unclear whether Pixel team members were granted an updated agreement or whether those who declined due to the previously added language will have another chance to apply.