Hi,
I publish a cooking recipe app on Google Play (content rating: “Rated for 3+”, Korea).
I want to add a feature: when a user shares a public YouTube cooking video URL to the app,
our backend server sends only that URL to the Gemini API and receives a structured list of
ingredients and cooking steps. We do not download captions or store the video.
I’d like to understand the Age Restrictions clause before building it.
Gemini API Additional Terms of Service (Effective March 23, 2026) states:
“You must be 18 years of age or older to use the APIs. You also will not use the Services
as part of a website, application, or other service (collectively, ‘API Clients’) that is
directed towards or is likely to be accessed by individuals under the age of 18.”
Q1. Our app is not directed at minors, but it is a general-audience app rated 3+,
so users under 18 can download it. Does calling the Gemini API from our own backend
(not from the client app) violate this clause?
Q2. If the app as a whole stays general-audience but the AI feature itself is restricted
to adult users (an age gate in front of that one feature), does that satisfy the
Age Restrictions? Or must the entire app be 18+?
Q3. Does Vertex AI (Google Cloud) carry the same restriction? The Google Cloud
Service Specific Terms appear to contain similar language about services
“likely to be accessed by individuals under the age of 18.”
I will not ship this feature until I understand the answer. Any pointer to official
guidance would be appreciated.
Thanks.