Team Pixel's new leaked agreement clause draws flak from tech reviewers and enthusiasts

Update 18/08/24 7:50 am (IST): In a statement to Android Police and The Verge,  Google Communications Manager Kayla Geier said the following:

#TeamPixel is a distinct program, separate from our press and creator reviews programs. The goal of #TeamPixel is to get Pixel devices into the hands of content creators, not press and tech reviewers. We missed the mark with this new language that appeared in the #TeamPixel form yesterday, and it has been removed.

This means creators who’re part of the #TeamPixel program no longer have to fear getting removed from Team Pixel for pointing out genuine issues on Pixel phones when compared to the competition. Furthermore, YouTuber Arun Maini, aka Mrwhosetheboss, also took to X to confirm that Google reached out to them shortly after their post on X to clarify that there was a “large internal miscommunication.” They have now received a Pixel 9 Pro from Google and are testing it for review.

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Original article published on August 16, 2024, follows:

Google seems to be in the limelight for all the wrong reasons in the past day. While the Pixel 9 series launch hype is still going strong, a recent post by the largest tech channel in the UK, Mrwhosetheboss, brought in a lot of attention to Google’s somewhat questionable practices. But that wasn’t the highlight itself.

Following Arun’s post on X noting that they didn’t receive an invitation for the Made by Google event, allegedly due to Arun’s criticism of the Pixel 8 series, we saw another unexpected revelation. YouTuber Mark’s Tech shed light on a new agreement clause for influencers who want to be part of Team Pixel.

First, let’s clear up the elephant in the room. Team Pixel is a PR agency partnered with Google to promote their Pixel phones by collaborating with influencers. Thus, the agreement may or may not have been approved by Google. So what’s so spicy about this new agreement? Well, the wording suggests that Team Pixel doesn’t want influencers to showcase any other alternatives with Pixel devices.

What’s even more questionable is the part that reads, “Please note that if it appears other brands are being preferred over the Pixel, we will need to cease the relationship between the brand and the creator.” Here’s a screenshot of that section of the agreement clause:

This suggests that if creators part of the Team Pixel program highlight certain flaws of Pixel phones over the competition, they risk losing their spot in the program. Not much after the news broke, several creators took to X to share their thoughts. I’ve highlighted some of the statements from creators/influencers below:

I know this was already shared. I waited. But this is why some creators opting out. Keep in mind everyone opted in that got these early. – Mike Dizzll

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Something is strange with #TeamPixel First they send devices to YouTubers who hate Pixels and have no interest in giving it a fair review, while ignoring many who love Pixels and support them. Now they basically tell creators that if they show any signs of preferring a competing phone, they will be kicked out of #TeamPixel . What’s going on? Who runs this team and why are they so bad at it? – Jason W

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Not a good look for #TeamPixel, @madebygoogle. Unclear if Google was aware of this wording, given that an outside agency is running the program, but the responsibility to set things straight is on Google at this point. – Artem Russakovskii

Popular YouTuber and former Team Pixel creator, TechOdyssey, also shared their disappointment with the new arrangement and stated that they’ve quit the Team Pixel program:

But but but… Before you pounce on your favorite YouTube tech reviewers who’ve shared their early hands-on videos, you should keep one important factor in mind. Tech review channel Hardware Canucks took to X to shed some important context to the drama.

Essentially, the agreement clause is for influencers who primarily showcase the devices on social media platforms for promotions. Review channels don’t have any such agreement clause with Google’s own PR. Thus, you needn’t worry about your favorite YouTube creators trying to cover up the flaws of newly launched Pixel phones.

That said, many tech enthusiasts are hoping Google releases an official statement regarding the incident. We’ll just have to wait and see what Google has to say about the Team Pixel agreement clause. That said, what are your thoughts on the whole situation? Let us know in the comments section below.