Privacy-conscious Indians are gonna have a nightmare. Indians excessively use whatsapp.
this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2025
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I remember getting flamed so hard for saying that Google/android was incredibly invasive tech. I was laughed at, called an apple fanboy and accused of schilling.
Sadly, it looks like I’m the one laughing now.
Lol and Apple doesnt do any of that?
Show me evidence they do.
No proof.
But even the US is scared of encrypted exfiltrated data because their adversaries could crack the encryption later on.
Same here.
They have the data and for now decided to not yet do do anything too bad with it.
But Google also had the motto "Don't be evil" at one point.
So…. No proof.
Look up a YT channel called Tech-Bore
They haven't done anything with that data yet*
While clearly the lesser evil in this moment, I wouldn't count on that lasting forever.
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 haven't turned it on. Am I safe?
I can't find Gemini on my phone.
It's absolutely there,it relaced assistant...
Signal is also a great alternative to WhatsApp. Molly for the extra privacy focused.
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.
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.
Pixel has a built in feature that screens my calls and sends spammers to a bot. Graphene has no equivalent to this.
In order for that feature to work, you need to give google permission to see who's calling you and when activated (and possibly even when not activated) listen to the phone conversation. That data is going back to google servers for processing. Gemini is also feeding off of that data. If you're concerned with the original post regarding WhatsApp data being fed to Gemini, why would you be okay with allowing google to listen in on your phone conversations, all for the small convenience of avoiding spam bots?
If you have voicemail and caller ID, just don't pickup the call if it isn't from a known contact.
If you're also thinking that google isn't collecting data without your consent, they literally just got fined 300+ million for doing exactly that.
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.
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...
And to want to access my calendars to book appointments for flights I can't afford
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.
My four year old low-end test device running Android had its assistant switched out from Google Assistant to Gemini. I was very surprised since I'd assumed that the vendor had stopped supporting it since it was so cheap, but it updated anyway.
My OnePlus 2 (latest official android was 6, it's running lineageos android 11 though) also got its assistant swapped with Gemini so idk
Google Play is separate from Android. Google likely updates it through that route, rather than relying on manufacturers.
Gemini was automatically installed for me, and the app connections were all enabled, like the article describes. Better check and be safe than to be sorry
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This is my assumption too. It's disabled for me. I have no plans to change that.
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I got a privacy update for Gmail tools too. It used to be to enable smart tools you needed to allow google to read your email. That does stuff like automatically add calendar events for flights and such.
Now you must also allow the email to be read by their AI services too. I can’t recall precisely how it was worded, but it was an easy decision to keep the “smart” features off.
I mean, I really just use Gmail as the email address I give to sign up for sites and such, but would be good just not to have it one day.
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.
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