Android Privacy Alert: Google Gemini Now Accesses Your WhatsApp, Messages & Calls
As of July 7, Android users began encountering an unexpected expansion in the capabilities of Gemini, the system-integrated artificial intelligence. It now has access to widely used apps such as WhatsApp, Messages, and Phone—even in instances where users had previously disabled such integration. This move by Google has sparked serious concerns among privacy experts.
The update arrived quietly, without fanfare, framed merely as a “helpful” enhancement intended to improve user experience. Yet in reality, it represents a significant architectural shift within Android, as Gemini is now able to interface with other apps by default—even if the user had explicitly restricted such behavior beforehand.
According to a letter Google sent to some users, Gemini can now share data with applications without waiting for explicit user consent. While partial restrictions remain possible, the company still retains certain user data for up to 72 hours. The letter also discloses that this collected information is reviewed and analyzed by human evaluators, and that complete removal of Gemini from the device is not officially supported.
In response to the growing wave of criticism, Google has yet to issue any official statement.
For those concerned about the privacy of their messages and calls, several methods are available to limit Gemini’s reach. Disabling or at least diminishing the influence of the AI can be achieved through a few measures:
First, users can deactivate the Gemini app itself through Android’s system settings. This can be done by navigating to “Settings,” selecting “Apps,” locating Gemini, and tapping “Disable.” While this won’t remove the AI from the device entirely, it will halt its operation.
Second, for those who wish to continue using Gemini but prefer not to share data from specific applications, access can be manually revoked. Within the Gemini interface, tap the profile icon in the top-right corner, go to the “Apps” section, and disable access to each app individually.
Third, users can turn off Gemini’s activity history to prevent the saving of prompts and restrict their use in future AI training. To do this, open the app, tap the profile icon again, navigate to “Gemini app activity history,” and disable it. However, even with this setting off, Google still retains data for up to three days “for security and quality purposes.”
The most radical approach involves completely removing Gemini from the device—a process requiring technical expertise. The user must install ADB (Android Debug Bridge) on their computer, connect their phone via USB, authorize the connection, and enter the following command:
adb shell pm uninstall com.google.android.apps.bard
This method lies outside standard Android configuration and should be performed with caution.
The concerns extend beyond privacy to broader questions about transparency in AI operations within mobile ecosystems. The quiet introduction of such features, especially when coupled with human oversight of user data, raises pressing issues about the boundaries of digital surveillance. With Google remaining silent, users are left to decide for themselves how deeply they are willing to let artificial intelligence intertwine with their daily lives.
