Starting this week, Gemini has been given access to your apps and their data unless you go in and disable it.
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Links
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Gemini Apps Activity – https://myactivity.google.com/product/gemini
Video Description
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If you use an Android smartphone, you need to hear this, and you need to hear it now. Starting yesterday, July 7th, 2025, Google quietly rolled out a change that allows its Gemini AI engine to access your third-party apps, like WhatsApp, Messages, and even your Phone app!
And here’s the kicker: even if you thought you had your privacy settings locked down, Google’s new update might have overridden your previous choices. This isn’t good news for privacy, and Google’s communication about it has been incredibly confusing. So, stick with me, because I’m going to show you exactly how to wrestle back control of your data and block Gemini from peeking into your apps.
Let’s make one thing clear: this is not an opt-in feature. Google says this change “will automatically start rolling out” and it will give Gemini access “whether your Gemini apps activity is on or off.” Think about that for a second. Even if you’ve been diligent about your privacy, Google essentially just flipped a switch on their end.
And the email Google sent out, supposedly informing users, was a masterclass in confusion. It provided absolutely no useful guidance on how to prevent this. In one breath it says your previous settings will be overridden, in another it contradicts itself by saying if features were off, they’ll stay off.
Compounding this, Google also confirmed that human reviewers (including service providers) read, annotate, and process the data Gemini accesses. Yes, you heard that right: human eyes on your app data if Gemini gets its hooks in.
So, what can you actually do to stop this digital invasion? Don’t worry, despite Google’s confusing messages, there are steps you can take. This is what you need to do RIGHT NOW:
First, open the Gemini mobile app on your Android device. Once you’re in Gemini, look for your profile picture or initial in the top right corner of the screen. Tap on it.
From the menu that pops up, find and select ‘Gemini Apps Activity.’ This will likely take you to a web page within the app or your browser. On this ‘Gemini Apps Activity’ page, you will see a toggle. You need to make sure this toggle is turned OFF.
This is your primary shield against ongoing data collection and interaction with your apps.
Now, an important side note: within the Gemini app, you might also find a separate ‘Apps’ section under your profile. This lists individual apps like WhatsApp, Messages, Phone. While turning off ‘Gemini Apps Activity’ should disable these, it’s a good idea to go into that ‘Apps’ section and manually toggle OFF access for any specific app you absolutely do not want Gemini touching.
But here’s a critical detail that Google isn’t making very obvious: even after you turn off ‘Gemini Apps Activity,’ your conversations and interactions with Gemini will still be saved for up to 72 hours! Google says this is for ‘safety and feedback,’ but it means there’s a window where your data is still retained, even if it’s supposedly not linked to your account for AI training.
So, if you want to be truly proactive about your privacy, you’ll need to manually delete your activity from that ‘Gemini Apps Activity’ page every 72 hours, or whenever you feel it’s necessary. Look for options to delete activity by last hour, last day, or a custom range on that same page.
This change feels less like a helpful opt-in feature and more like a default integration that users have to actively fight against. It brings up serious concerns about user control and data privacy, especially when human reviewers are involved.
Google claims this is “good for users,” by allowing Gemini to complete tasks like sending messages or making calls even with ‘Gemini Apps Activity’ turned off. But for a significant number of folks within the community, this level of automatic access is precisely what we don’t want.
Your privacy on Android just got a new challenge.
#android #gemini #googlegemini #geminiai #googlegeminiai
Step by Step Tutorial
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1. Intro [00:00]
2. Google Gemini Gains Access to Your Apps Unless You Change the Setting [00:53]
3. This is the Setting to Disable to Block Gemini from Accessing Your Apps [02:32]
4. But What About the 72-hour Hold on Gemini Activity? [06:00]
5. This is Why Your Private Data is Important [07:11]
6. Conclusion [08:32]
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