Google Is Going Into The Mosquito Business, Should We Be Concerned?

Alphabet's life sciences division filed for an Experimental Use Permit with the EPA to release up to 32 million sterilized male mosquitoes per state, starting with Florida and then California, over two years beginning this year.

Being a Florida resident, this concerns me. The public was never consulted, and no vote was held to determine whether the state's residents approved of the experiment.

What could go wrong?

The mosquitoes carry Wolbachia bacteria.

In theory, the infected males will breed with wild females. This prevents the eggs from hatching, thereby decreasing the mosquito population. Since 2016, they have been developing AI-powered breeding systems and robotic mosquito-sorting machines to scale the entire operation.

So, this is not some fly-by-night operation, or is it? Although the current method for isolating male mosquitoes is manual and time-consuming, Google is working on new technologies. These advancements will use sensors, algorithms, and innovative engineering to capitalize on specific aspects of mosquito biology, enabling the rapid and accurate sorting of males from females.

Scientists and engineers at the company are developing sensors, traps, and software to identify areas that require treatment or re-treatment.

Susanne Kluh, general manager of the Greater L.A. County Vector Control District, said.

“I’m pretty much in favor of whichever (sterile insect technique) approach gets us the disease prevention and nuisance control we need and at the lowest price.”

All of this sounds good, but there are other concerns. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Dr. Laura Harrington, a CDC biologist specializing in mosquito mating behavior, raised concerns that warranted front-page treatment.

In related studies of Culex species, laboratory research has shown that the wAlbB strain of Wolbachia – the same strain used in Google's project – can enhance West Nile virus transmission rather than suppress it.

The bacteria that Google is introducing into 64 million mosquitoes have, under controlled lab conditions, increased a related species' capacity to spread disease.

Dr. Harrington stated to The Daily Mail that male mosquitoes have been scientifically overlooked for decades because they do not bite.

"We don't really know what an optimal diet is, or what they actually consume in nature on a regular basis.”

So, Google plans to release 32 million insects in Florida, despite scientists admitting they do not fully understand their biology.

What could go wrong?

A Wolbachia mosquito release program took place in Brazil during 2023 and 2024.

Google has been proven to be reckless and self-serving in the past

In 2024, the same year the program became fully operational, Brazil reported more than 6.5 million confirmed dengue cases.

These figures are the highest in Brazilian recorded history.

Bill Gates, who made billions off COVID-19 and his support for the murderous vaccine it produced, called this program a model for fighting mosquito-borne disease.

That statement alone from Gates is cause for concern.

Rep. Tim Burchett from Tennessee articulated it well on X when the story was announced:

"Why does Google have 32 million mosquitoes? Have we not learned our lesson with Kudzu, Sparrows, Black Birds, and Asian Carp? Should I go on? Don't mess with the balance of nature."

He's right.

Each of those well-intentioned biological interventions ended in disaster. Kudzu was introduced in the 1800s to prevent soil erosion, but it has since become known as "the vine that ate the South."

Once you release something into nature, there is no way to take it back. No do-overs.

Lee Zeldin is not going to be bullied.

In May, rumors spread on social media claiming that the EPA had approved the release of 2 billion genetically modified mosquitoes. In response, Zeldin strongly condemned these claims as fake news and clarified that the Trump-era EPA had not authorized any such release.

That's the right attitude. Companies like Google cannot be allowed to venture into unknown territories, especially when their intentions always sound noble, but often turn out badly.

Google submitted two separate applications to release a total of 96 million Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes across New Jersey, California, and Florida from 2026 to 2028.

The EPA has not approved either of them.

Google has been proven to be reckless and self-serving in the past. This company has been caught suppressing conservative speech, banning Dan Bongino from YouTube for years, and admitted to Congress that it acted on Biden's orders.

Now, they want a federal permit to conduct experiments in American states, while residents are provided no vote, no warning, and no recourse if something goes wrong.

Zeldin's response should mirror what Google claims they are trying to prevent the mosquitoes from doing.

Bite Me!