Google's Gemini AI Update Sparks Privacy Concerns on Android Devices

Unless users take action, Android will let Gemini access third-party apps

Starting today, Google is implementing a change that will enable its Gemini AI engine to interact with third-party apps, such as WhatsApp, even when users previously configured their devices to block such interactions. Users who don't want their previous settings to be overridden may have to take action. An email Google sent recently informing users of the change linked to a notification page that said that "human reviewers (including service providers) read, annotate, and process" the data Gemini accesses. The email provides no useful guidance for preventing the changes from taking effect. The email said users can block the apps that Gemini interacts with, but even in those cases, data is stored for 72 hours. No, Google, it's not good news The email never explains how users can fully extricate Gemini from their Android devices and seems to contradict itself on how or whether this is even possible. At one point, it says the changes "will automatically start rolling out" today and will give Gemini access to apps such as WhatsApp, Messages, and Phone "whether your Gemini apps activity is on or off." A few sentences later, the email says, "If you have already turned these features off, they will remain off." Nowhere in the email or the support pages it links to are Android users informed how to remove Gemini integrations completely. Compounding the confusion, one of the linked support pages requires users to open a separate support page to learn how to control their Gemini app settings. Following the directions from a computer browser, I accessed the settings of my account's Gemini app. I was reassured to see the text indicating no activity has been stored because I have Gemini turned off. Then again, the page also said that Gemini was "not saving activity beyond 72 hours." I got similarly tripped up while trying to follow the guidance on my Pixel 7. Google support said to access the mobile Gemini app from my device. I tried, but the app was nowhere to be found. Nowhere in the email or any of the Support pages did Google say how to remove all Gemini integrations from my phone. All of this left me wondering: Was Gemini completely disabled or not? When I discussed the lack of clarity on Mastodon, I quickly learned I wasn't the only one asking this question. I then emailed Google PR and included a link to the Mastodon thread. I asked if someone could provide actionable guidance for my readers who want to ensure Gemini integrations are completely disabled. Instead of answering the question, the person responding to my email wrote, in part: "This update is good for users: they can now use Gemini to complete daily tasks on their mobile devices like send messages, initiate phone calls, and set timers while Gemini Apps Activity is turned off. With Gemini Apps Activity turned off, their Gemini chats are not being reviewed or used to improve our AI models." The representative included a link to one of the same unclear support pages mentioned above. A researcher at Tuta, a cloud-based provider of a privacy-focused email and calendar service, on Monday attempted to fill the void of actionable guidance. The immediate takeaway seems to be that Google may be bolting Gemini into Android in much the way Microsoft did with Internet Explorer into Windows, a move that landed the software maker in a protracted antitrust suit with the federal government and a dozen states, commonwealths, or districts in the late 1990s. The Tuta post says disabling Gemini app activity is likely to prevent data collection beyond the activity temporarily stored for 72 hours. It goes on to say that if the Gemini app isn't installed already, it will not be installed after the change takes effect. That likely means my phone is safe, since Gemini isn't installed. I'm not sure if the absence of Gemini from my device is the result of me manually removing the app at some point and forgetting I had done so, or if, for some reason, it was never installed in the first place. The Tuta post goes on to say that another remedy is to completely uninstall Gemini from the device. Of course, Google doesn't make this easy for people who aren't comfortable mucking around with a command-line terminal and making under-the-hood changes to their Android settings. This can be done by using the Android debug bridge that Google makes available to developers. Once it's installed (not easy for the faint of heart), users must uninstall the app by entering the adb shell pm uninstall com.google.android.apps.bard command. When I tried this, macOS returned a message saying Failure [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR. I'm not sure if that means the package can't be removed or it was never on my Pixel in the first place. Google is no doubt correct in saying that many Android users will find Gemini integrations useful. Google marketers may claim the integration is good news, and for these users, this is likely to be true. A significant number of others, however, don't want Gemini or other AI engines anywhere near their devices. For the time being, these users are being left completely in the dark.

Google Gemini can now read your WhatsApp chats without you knowing - but you can stop it

Users may need to actively turn these features off to prevent Gemini from having access to Messages, WhatsApp, Utilities, or Phone applications Starting from Monday (July 7, 2025), Google has changed how its AI chatbot communicates with some third-party apps on your Android device. This means that Google Gemini can now interact with Messages, WhatsApp, Utilities, or Phone applications. The change is set to automatically roll out for Android users, whether the device's Gemini Apps Activity is on or off. While the update aims to make it easier for Gemini to interact with your device and boost your overall experience, concerned users may have to actively turn these features off to prevent Gemini from accessing their chats and other personal data. As Google explains in its support page, "Gemini can connect with services called apps to better help you get things done." This, for example, means that the AI chatbot can now send a WhatsApp message for you, set timers, and even initiate calls. Crucially, these changes are expected to be rolled out automatically even if you have your Gemini Apps Activity switched off on your Android device. As Google explains on its website, Gemini Apps offer direct access to Google AI functionalities while storing your personal data to provide the service and maintain its security. Crucially, the provider logs your chats in your account for up to 72 hours, whether Gemini Apps activity is on or off. If you are an Android user, you should have received an email from Google to notify you about these changes. While some users may find that these new interactions will ultimately turn Gemini into a better phone assistant, some may see the change as intrusive and would like to opt out. Certainly, the team behind the encrypted email service, Tuta, believes this update to be concerning. "While some may think this is a win for user privacy, as now Android users can use Gemini integrations with Gemini App Activity turned off (previously it would only work when turned on), at Tuta we see still see this as a cause for privacy concern," the provider wrote in a blog post. "This Gemini update highlights the need that tech companies must be stopped from quietly opting users into new features. Google - and others - must be more transparent with what the changes made actually mean for users' data, and how they affect user privacy." As per Google's instructions, Android users are expected to take active action to prevent Gemini from interacting with their apps. "If you don't want to use these features, you can turn them off in the Apps settings page," reads Google's email. "If you have already turned these features off, they will remain off." Experts at Tuta put together a practical guide on how to stop Gemini from interacting with third-party apps. So, if you want to halt Google's Gemini tracking, Tuta suggests turning Gemini off. You should be able to do that by heading to your Android settings and tab Disable Gemini App. Alternatively, you can choose to completely uninstall Gemini from your Android using the dev tools on a desktop PC. Bear in mind that this process requires some Android technical knowledge. Experts also suggest looking out for new Android operating system updates, as Gemini features may be added to some phones on a later date.

WhatsApp privacy alert: Gemini AI can access message previews even when turned off. What to do now?

Google has begun rolling out a new update for its Gemini AI, enabling it to access apps like WhatsApp, Phone, and Messages on Android devices -- even if users have turned off Gemini Apps Activity. The update, effective from July 7, allows Gemini to read and respond to messages via notifications and other system tools, raising privacy concerns. Google claims data is only stored temporarily (up to 72 hours) for safety, but users remain uneasy. While settings exist to limit or disable Gemini's access, some data may still be collected regardless.