• Professorozone@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    I’m pretty sure I disabled/removed it when I got this phone. I don’t specifically remember doing it but when I get a new phone, I watch some YouTube videos on how to purge all the crap I don’t want.

    I read an article that mentioned using command line stuff to eliminate it and it kind looked familiar. I think I did this. I really should write stuff down.

  • anytimesoon@feddit.uk
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    6 days ago

    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”?

    • pathief@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      I also don’t have a Gemini app but if you search for Gemini in the Settings main menu, it shows up.

      • Szyler@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        I don’t have the app, and searching for “gemini” only gives “gemini settings” which when clicked opens the promt of “do you accept changing Google assistant to gemini”, clicking “not now” just sends me back to setting search.

      • anytimesoon@feddit.uk
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        5 days ago

        Thank you. We had actually already checked this but had not found Gemini in the settings.

        Turns out typing “gem” in the settings search is not enough. Only typing “Gemini” returned a result.

  • Wren@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    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.

          • Wren@lemmy.world
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            4 days ago

            So, they’re doing shit you can prove, but they’re doing it. Do I have that right?

            • Jiří Král@discuss.tchncs.de
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              4 days ago

              I will be honest that I don’t know what exact shit are we discussing here I rather wanted to point out that Apple might not be as much privacy first company as they like to present themselves.

              • Wren@lemmy.world
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                4 days ago

                If they’re not, I’m sure it should be easy for you to provide evidence to support your claim. That’s all I’m asking.

                That is the shit we are talking about.

        • dropped_packet@lemmy.zip
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          5 days ago

          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.

          • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            5 days ago

            As every user at some points mentions: They are a public company and once they can’t satisfy their shareholders, they will turn on the data faucet to 3rd parties. They already have the an advertisement CDN.
            They already have everything in place to achieve that situation.

        • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          5 days ago

          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.

            • zo0@programming.dev
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              5 days ago

              Apple absolutely does collect huge amounts of data from the users. The difference is they don’t directly ‘sell’ that data to advertisers. Instead they get paid to personalize the ads themselves and wear that as a badge for ‘advocating privacy’. Stock Android is horrendous compared to what Apple does, yes. However you usually have the option to ditch it for a more privacy respecting Android.

            • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              5 days ago

              Same for you. Proof that Apple isn’t using it to analyze your (usage) data.
              And it’s not okay just because it’s the 1st party analyzing it because they arent selling it.

              I am really tired of the hypocrisy of some lemmy users advocating for maximum privacy to the detriment of everyone around them but on the other hand just saying “yeah, that’s totally fine” and basically breaking all their principles.

              • Wren@lemmy.world
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                5 days ago

                The article we are commenting on, along with the countless others that call out Google/android for snooping in your data and selling it off is my proof.

                I really tired of lemmy users that think because one thing is bad- ALL things similar are bad.

                Is almost like nuance is just something kids don’t seem to understand anymore.

  • slowbyrne@lemmy.zip
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    7 days ago

    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.

    • renzev@lemmy.world
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      6 days ago

      The reason they don’t want you to unlock your bootloader is because of security…

      …security of their revenue stream, that is.

    • Novaling@lemmy.zip
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      6 days ago

      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.

    • I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world
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      6 days ago

      Pixel has a built in feature that screens my calls and sends spammers to a bot. Graphene has no equivalent to this.

      • slowbyrne@lemmy.zip
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        6 days ago

        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.

  • Ansis100@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    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.

    • Wrufieotnak@feddit.org
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      5 days ago

      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.

  • slowbyrne@lemmy.zip
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    6 days ago

    Signal is also a great alternative to WhatsApp. Molly for the extra privacy focused.

      • salamandermander@lemmings.world
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        7 days ago

        The Gemini app. I can’t uninstall it from my phone but I have it disabled. Not sure if Google’s other account access and apps on my phone are going to still feed into Gemini.

        • dejected1761@lemmy.ca
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          7 days ago

          I think when google app and play services still present on your device, it feeds data into gemini anyway. Hope you are not using google vanilla apps.

          By the way why you arent able to uninstall gemini app ? 🤔 Did you tried lineage os with microg which is way better ?!

        • Vanilla_PuddinFudge@infosec.pub
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          6 days ago

          If your phone is unaltered in any way, absolutely nothing you do on it is private, even turned off.

          Sweating over one app when your entire phone is the posterboy for spyware? lol

          edit: “nice downvotes!” ~ Google

          • xep@fedia.io
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            7 days ago

            Why are you being downvoted for this? In stock devices the user has no way to even start looking at what is being run. All you can do is trust the manufacturer.

            • starman2112@sh.itjust.works
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              6 days ago

              Because it’s worth plugging up some privacy holes even if you can’t get all of them. Google already knows my name, address, and phone number, but that’s no reason to let 5th Edition Character Sheet learn it too. They already have gigabytes of personally identifiable data on me, doesn’t mean I’m cool with them bumping that up to terabytes

  • Nighed@feddit.uk
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    7 days ago

    Is this a US only thing? I have no email and no Gemini app (although there are settings in system)

    • Vinstaal0@feddit.nl
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      6 days ago

      I hope so considering I talk to others who will have Android phones with Google on it.

  • VeloRama@feddit.org
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    5 days ago

    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?

    • Null User Object@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      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).

      • VeloRama@feddit.org
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        5 days ago

        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.

      • Damaskox@lemmy.world
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        5 days ago

        I cannot find it as an app in the app listing.

        I find it only through search in settings, and it opens a screen - asking to activate it.

        It seems weird.

  • theherk@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    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.

  • Null User Object@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    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.