I am preparing Scribe, a free Chrome Web Store extension that helps blind and low-vision adults extract text from images. Users may use it for both personal and professional OCR tasks in Japan.
The extension offers two OCR methods. The default is a Windows-only local OCR companion. The optional method lets each adult user enter their own Gemini API key. The key is stored locally. A user-selected image is sent directly from the extension to the Gemini API, and neither the key nor the image passes through the extension developer’s server.
Could you please clarify the following points under the Gemini API Additional Terms effective March 23, 2026?
- Does making this optional BYOK feature available to adults for personal OCR fall within the prohibited “consumer use,” even though each user obtains and uses their own API key?
- If personal use is not permitted, may the extension keep local OCR available for personal use while limiting the optional Gemini feature to users who use it for professional or business purposes?
- Must the optional Gemini feature require a Cloud project with an active billing account, rather than Unpaid Services, when the extension is publicly distributed?
- If this forum cannot give an authoritative compliance answer, which Google contact should review this API Client design before public distribution?
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