Chrome OS for Dutch education can only remove GDPR concerns in August 2023

The modified versions of Chrome OS and the Chrome browser for Dutch education will come in August 2023. It was previously said that these modified versions would come in the current school year. Google is adjusting the education versions due to GDPR concerns.

Google has according to education ministers Robbert Dijkgraaf and Dennis Wiersma said to want to have a new version of Chrome OS and Chrome ready in August 2023 that is in line with the agreements Google made in 2021 about Google Workspace. These agreements were made because the Dutch Data Protection Authority doubted whether the educational use of Google Workspace, Chrome OS and Chrome complied with the GDPR.

Because of these doubts, educational institutions were advised in June 2021 to stop using Google services. The concerns revolved around the processing of personal data, the purposes for which the processing took place and the basis. Google then indicated that it expected to complete the shortcomings before the start of the 2021-2022 school year.

In August 2021, it was announced that Google would provide new Chrome OS and Chrome versions for education for this purpose. Google indicated that the “high risks would be mitigated before the start of the 2021-2022 school year.” However, the required adjustment to the data processor role would not be possible soon, due to the “significant technical and organizational changes in Google’s systems and processes.” Apparently it will take until the end of next school year before these changes can be implemented and Google’s education software is fully GDPR compliant.