Google’s new conversational editing tool, which lets people adjust photos just by speaking instructions, is rolling out across Android phones in the United States. But two states are noticeably missing from the launch. Users in Texas and Illinois do not have access to the feature, and Google has offered no clear explanation for why it has been withheld.

The tool first appeared on the Google Pixel 10, allowing users to say simple commands like “brighten the sky” or “remove the reflection,” with the app carrying out the edits automatically. It later expanded to more Android devices, with Google promoting the feature heavily as part of its AI-driven updates to Google Photos.

However, news outlets in Texas found that customers there cannot use the tool at all. Shoppers were not informed ahead of time, meaning some bought new devices expecting the feature only to find it missing. Google’s support pages say that conversational editing “isn’t available in all regions,” but do not name the states where restrictions apply or provide any reason for the limitation.

Legal experts believe the cause may be tied to strict biometric privacy laws in Texas and Illinois. The tool requires Face Groups to be enabled — a Google Photos feature that sorts images by recognising faces and clustering them automatically. This kind of face-based grouping is treated as biometric data in those states, and laws there place strict limits on how companies can collect, store, and use such information.

Professor Frank Fagan of the South Texas College of Law says that the restriction likely comes down to how Google handles users’ photos behind the scenes. He notes that both states limit how long companies can keep biometric information, and how it can be shared or used. He suggests Google may be storing edited images longer than the law allows, possibly to train its Gemini AI model, or may not be able to fully comply with state requirements around consent and data destruction.

The voice-controlled editing tool works freely in other regions, and similar features are available inside some browsers and on iPhones. That inconsistency has created more confusion, especially since Google faced a major lawsuit in Texas earlier this year over biometric data practices. The company paid more than one billion dollars to settle claims that it collected facial data from millions of residents without proper consent.

These laws, known as biometric information acts, were designed to protect people from misuse of face scans and voiceprints. They require companies to clearly explain how data is handled and to delete it within a certain time frame. For a system like conversational editing — which relies on facial recognition to sort photos before applying edits — those rules create complications that may be difficult to solve without major changes to how the feature operates.

For now, users in Texas and Illinois will see the feature advertised but will not be able to use it. Google has not said whether the restriction is permanent, whether an update might make the tool compliant, or whether the company is seeking legal clarity from state regulators.

The situation highlights how quickly AI features in phones are running into legal barriers, and how different privacy laws across states can shape what tools users actually receive. What is marketed as a universal feature may not be available everywhere — and for many buyers, that information only becomes clear after the phone is already in their hands.

Privacy and Tech Update

Further reading on US biometric laws: https://iapp.org
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FAQ

Why is the Google Photos voice editing tool unavailable in Texas and Illinois?
Because those states have strict biometric privacy laws that limit how face and voice data can be stored and processed.

Does Google explain the restriction on its website?
Not directly. The company only states that the feature is not available everywhere.

Is the issue related to facial recognition?
Yes. The feature requires Face Groups, which uses face recognition to sort images.

Has Google faced legal action in Texas before?
Yes. Google paid a large settlement earlier this year over the handling of biometric data.

Could the feature return later?
Possibly. Google has not ruled out changes or updates that may bring it back.