On July 7, Gemini AI will access your WhatsApp and more. Learn how to disable it on Android.
On July 7, Gemini AI will access your WhatsApp and more. Learn how to disable it on Android.
Gemini AI needs to be disabled on Android or it will override your privacy settings and gain full access to your texts, calls, and WhatsApp - even if you’ve turned off Gemini Apps Activity. But what does this Android update really mean, and how can you stop it? Let’s take a deep dive!
These instructions are awful. There's no Gemini listed in my apps, and Settings > Apps doesn't show it either. But if I search for "Gemini" in settings, THEN it shows up, but doesn't have access to anything the article says to do.
However, from that screen, I was able to apparently turn off its access to everything, and switch back to assistant, which appears to have turned it off completely, but who knows if it's still lurking in the background.
I have Android 16 on a Pixel 8 but no Gemini. Is it not installed if I chose "No thanks" when I got the info screens about it?
Open settings, and search for"Gemini" from the search bar. That's the only way I was able to get to anything Gemini related. I turned off it's access to everything from there, then the last setting was to switch back to assistant which appears to have turned Gemini off, but who knows (hence disabling it's access to everything anyway).
With search there's only a single "Gemini Settings" that is found. That opens a wizard for me. On the second page, after scrolling all the way down, I can select "No thanks". That's what I was referring to. I was wondering if that's enough.
My gf got one of those emails, but she doesnt have the Gemini app installed on her phone. All of the instruction articles I can find only explain how to turn it off if you have the app.
Does not having the app mean that she's safe from this, or does it mean that she needs to download the app to disable the "feature"?
I also don't have a Gemini app but if you search for Gemini in the Settings main menu, it shows up.
Signal is also a great alternative to WhatsApp. Molly for the extra privacy focused.
I haven't turned it on. Am I safe?
Nop. Disable it in the settings/apps
Kinda seems fucking stupid
Not that I support this, but hasn't Google Assistant been able to do that for years? Sending texts via the voice assistant has been, like, one of the main selling points.
Kinda, but the thing this time is that they will change it f unilaterally rom their side, even if you specifically disabled this connectivity on your phone. So they want that data reallyyyyy badly. So even more important to not give it to them.
For those on Pixel devices, check out GrapheneOS. If not CalyxOS or LineageOS
Its important that we have devices that we control. If your phone doesn't allow bootloader unlock so you can install a different operating system, that's a problem. Claims that security is compromised if bootloaders can be unlocked are just companies using a convenient excuse to maintain control over a device you paid for.
The reason they don't want you to unlock your bootloader is because of security....
...security of their revenue stream, that is.
The whole reason GrapheneOS develops only for Pixels is that you can relock the bootloader though, right? (Along with other security features)
Anyway yeah companies still suck for not letting you relock them.
It's actually a whole list of requirements. https://grapheneos.org/faq#future-devices
Verizon branded pixels are unable to unlock the bootloader, I.e, mine. No amount of phone support will change this.
I don't believe that's a pixel specific benefit but yes relocking the bootloader is best for security. The unlocking process is needed to install an alternative OS though.
Me on my de-googled phone:
Yeah, and it's presumptious of them to access the WhatsApp account I don't have...
What I hate most about this is the lack of control over this it implies. Sure, maybe you don’t install this on your device, but all that’s needed for Google to access your messages now is for someone you message to have it installed and enabled, then anything you send to them will be gobbled up by Google.
If the Gemini app is not installed, it can't do this right
laughs in LineageOS
I'm rather confused. I don't have any app called Gemini installed, but despite this "Hey Google" brings up Gemini. So I have no app to disable, and no way to turn off interaction with other apps. This is on a Samsung A55 in Europe, happily taking advice on how to proceed.
I found settings for it in my phone's settings menu, so yeah, no standalone app you can disable or remove. They baked it into the OS.
This is my assumption too. It's disabled for me. I have no plans to change that.
I don't even have a Gemini app installed in the first place.
Is this a US only thing? I have no email and no Gemini app (although there are settings in system)
I hope so considering I talk to others who will have Android phones with Google on it.
Good thing I don't have that shit on my phone (at least until Google forces it)
The people you're messaging might, though.
Cool, the app that doesn't exist on my phone will access an account I don't have. I've never used WhatsApp and I don't plan to start now.
Oh hell nah
Hopefully unintalling and disabling is actually doing something. I feel like they are just tricking us and you can't really disable it.