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Google restricting Google AI Pro/Ultra subscribers for using OpenClaw

discuss.ai.google.dev

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Re: Google restricting Google AI Pro/Ultra subscribers for using OpenClaw

#161

Post by cube00 »

stevage wrote: post #65
chongli wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Friendly reminder that Google Takeout [1] exists. When I read a story a few years ago about a guy who had his primary Google account banned with no recourse (for reselling Pixel phones) and permanently lost 20 years worth of emails and family photos, I researched and found Takeout and used it to back up all my data, then subsequently stopped using Google services altogether (apart from YouTube). [1] https://takeout.g…

That doesn't solve all issues, such as services you have signed up to using your Gmail account.

It's called lock in for a reason.

It's supposed to be hard to leave.

I'm just grateful they at least have takeout.

Re: Google restricting Google AI Pro/Ultra subscribers for using OpenClaw

#162

Post by jauntywundrkind »

MattDaEskimo wrote: post #25

I'm very confused here. The monthly plans are meant to be used inside of Google's walled garden, but people are somehow able to capture (?) and re-use the oAuth token? Regardless, I thought it was pretty obvious that things like OpenClaw require an API account, and not a subsidized monthly plan.

Sure. But a zero strike getting kicked out of your Google account is a grotesque evil.

Edit: maybe it's not the whole account? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47116330

Re: Google restricting Google AI Pro/Ultra subscribers for using OpenClaw

#163

Post by gck1 »

Belphemur wrote: post #23
bethekind wrote: post #15

This is draconian. > Our investigation specifically confirmed that the use of your credentials within the third-party tool “open claw” for testing purposes constitutes a violation of the Google Terms of Service [1]. This is due to the use of Antigravity servers to power a non-Antigravity product. I must be transparent and inform you that, in accordance with Google’s policy, this situation falls under a zero tolerance…

Basically Google is saying: You can't use Gemini with OAuth on other products than Google products (Anti Gravity). I mean it's fair, just should have been documented properly and the possibility to use Gemini through OAuth restricted with proper scope instead of saying you broke the ToS we ban your 350$/ month account.

Can openclaw go through gemini-cli? Because they can and nobody would notice anything has changed. It would use the same OAuth down the line and consume the same quotas.

Re: Google restricting Google AI Pro/Ultra subscribers for using OpenClaw

#164

Post by LinXitoW »

_pdp_ wrote: post #126

While the frustration is understandable I don't see any difference between this and Netflix not allowing you to use your Netflix subscription in Amazon Prime federated video hub or something of that sort. At the end of the day we know that these tools are massively subsidised and they do not reflect the real cost of usage. It is a fair-use model at best and the goal is to capture as market share as possible. I am a n…

No, it's more like Netflix not allowing you to watch on non-Netflix branded devices or browsers. Or banning you for connecting the wrong TV to a valid device.

Or Microsoft banning you from O365 for not using their browser, or the correct monitor, or the correct mouse or.....

Re: Google restricting Google AI Pro/Ultra subscribers for using OpenClaw

#165

Post by SilverElfin »

bethekind wrote: post #15

This is draconian. > Our investigation specifically confirmed that the use of your credentials within the third-party tool “open claw” for testing purposes constitutes a violation of the Google Terms of Service [1]. This is due to the use of Antigravity servers to power a non-Antigravity product. I must be transparent and inform you that, in accordance with Google’s policy, this situation falls under a zero tolerance…

It’s protectionism. These corporations are staying big because of anti competitive practices and capital. They don’t want to let go.

Re: Google restricting Google AI Pro/Ultra subscribers for using OpenClaw

#166

Post by WSSP »

helsinkiandrew wrote: post #157

So a Google AI pro/ultra account is intended to be used from their cli or tools (like their open-gravity agent front end). Their API usage isn't included in these plans, although under the hood open-gravity uses the API. People have been using the API auth credential intended for anti-gravity with open claw, presumably causing a significant amount of use and have been caught. The Google admin tools and process haven’…

> The Google admin tools and process haven’t quite been able to cope with this situation and people have been overly banned with poor information sent to the users.

I can’t recall any success story of Google’s support team or process coping with a consumer’s situation, many have been posted here. this isn’t a new outcome, just a new cause

I do want to understand what’s happening with the $250/mo fees of users caught in this. will it be automatically cancelled at some point?

Re: Google restricting Google AI Pro/Ultra subscribers for using OpenClaw

#167

Post by hendersoon »

gck1 wrote: post #149

I don't understand how this can be enforced without ridiculous levels of false positives. I'm truly baffled. The same with Claude Code situation. gemini-cli, claude-code, codex etc, they ALL have a -p flag or equivalent, which is non-interactive IO interface for their LLM inference. If I wire my tooling (or openclaw) to use the -p flag (or equivalents), is that allowed? Okay, maybe they get rid of the -p flag and I h…

The -p flag should be fine, so long as you don't use their oauth in a third-party tool. Gemini also supports A2A for this sort of thing.

Re: Google restricting Google AI Pro/Ultra subscribers for using OpenClaw

#168

Post by SilverElfin »

jacquesm wrote: post #120
torginus wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't the reason companies are doing this because they're offering tokens at a discount, provided they're spent through their tooling? Considering the tremendous amount of tokens OpenClaw can burn for something that has nothing to do with sofware development, I think it's reasonable for Google to not allow using tokens reserved for Antigravity. I don't think there's such a restriction if you pay for the API out of po…

> Isn't the reason companies are doing this because they're offering tokens at a discount, provided they're spent through their tooling? Then maybe they should charge for that instead of banning accounts? Google decided on their own business plan without any guns to their backs. If they decide to create a plan that is subsidized that's entirely on them.

Yep it sounds like Google is charging too little, and taking losses that would be unsustainable for other companies, to try and win the market on AI coding products. Which is a violation of anti trust law, I think. Now that people are using their pricing in an unexpected way where their product isn’t the one winning from their anti competitive practices, they’re punishing the users. Classic monopolistic behavior. And why we need to tax mega corp more and break them up.

Re: Google restricting Google AI Pro/Ultra subscribers for using OpenClaw

#169

Post by merlindru »

gck1 wrote: post #149

I don't understand how this can be enforced without ridiculous levels of false positives. I'm truly baffled. The same with Claude Code situation. gemini-cli, claude-code, codex etc, they ALL have a -p flag or equivalent, which is non-interactive IO interface for their LLM inference. If I wire my tooling (or openclaw) to use the -p flag (or equivalents), is that allowed? Okay, maybe they get rid of the -p flag and I h…

claude -p is allowed as far as I'm aware.

if i understand correctly, they even have a wrapper around it to make it easier to use: the Claude Agent SDK

the thing that's disallowed is pretending you're the claude binary, logging in through OAuth

in other words, if you use some product thats not Claude Code, and your browser opens asking you to "give Claude Code access to your account", you're in hot water

as for how they detect it: they say they use heuristics and usage patterns. if something falls wildly out of the distribution it's a ban.

my take is that the problem is not the means of detection. that's fine and seems to work well. the problem is that its an instant outright ban. they should give you a couple warning emails, then a timeout, etc.

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