C.Jun 25

I learned something today: Google's Gemini "AI" on phones accesses your data from "Phones, Messages, WhatsApp" and other stuff whether you have Gemini turned on or not. It just keeps the data longer if you turn it on. Oh, and lets it be reviewed by humans (!) for Google's advantage in training "AI" etc.

But this only came to my attention because of an upcoming change: it's going to start keeping your data long-term even if you turn it "off": "#Gemini will soon be able to help you use Phone, #Messages, #WhatsApp, and Utilities on your phone, whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off."

This is, of course, a #privacy and #security #nightmare.

If this is baked into Android, and therefore not removable, I'd have to say I'd recommend against using Android at all starting July 7th.

https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/gemini-ai-will-soon-access-calls-and-messages-on-your-android-even-if-you

#spyware #AI #LLM #Google #spying #phone #Android #private #data

Show threadProfessorBoopJun 25
@cazabon Can't someone just deny it those permissions? Or even just uninstall it altogether with ADB?
Show threadC.Jun 25

@ProfessorBoop

The article says it accesses this information whether you have it turned on or not; I don't know for sure, but it sure sounds like there's no permissions controls that would prevent it from doing so.

I don't know if it's uninstallable at all; that's why I wondered if it was baked into Android. Regardless of whether it's uninstallable with ADB, that's not a solution - the vast majority of Android users don't have the knowledge and inclination to do so -- or even to know "ADB" exists and what it is. Think "regular users".

@lauren regularly makes the point that technical "solutions" to privacy and security problems which require advanced technical skill and understanding are an overall negative for the tech world - it makes the technically capable regard the problems as non-issues and leaves the vast majority of users helpless and victimized.

#users #solution #problem #victim #technology #tech

Show threadProfessorBoop
@cazabon @lauren I agree but the average person doesn't have privacy and is just preyed upon because people don't care about privacy like you or I until it's too late. It's much easier for someone to shut their brain off and click "I agree" and have a defeatist mindset to privacy. Until people actually care, every act of defiance against surveillance is an ugly technical solution. Anti-intellectualism and the reduced barrier to entry of dumbed down iPads has been disastrous for humanity.
Jun 25 at 5:48pmMoshidon
Show threadJulie WebgirlJun 26

@ProfessorBoop @cazabon @lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org

Doesn't matter if one cares if they can't do anything about it. They make it difficult on purpose.

Show threadDer GigaJun 26

@juliewebgirl This Tech elitism that blames the individual is at the end siding with abusive tech companies.
It's also completely on l oblivious to the fact, that the informed consumer can not exist, because the complexity of our ßm systems would make it more than a full-time job to be well informed and capable.

@ProfessorBoop @cazabon