Last week, some Android users received emails from Google stating that beginning July 7, Gemini—the AI assistant—will gain expanded capabilities to support interactions within key apps like Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and other utilities on your device. Notably, these enhancements will apply even if you have previously disabled Gemini Apps Activity on your phone.
According to Google’s website, “Gemini apps give you direct access to Google AI” and clarify that “your chats are saved in your account for up to 72 hours, whether Gemini Apps activity is on or off.” This means that even when the feature is off, Google may still temporarily store certain personal data—possibly including WhatsApp conversations—to power its assistant features.
With this update, Gemini will be able to read your messages and compose replies, boosting its utility—but potentially at the cost of user privacy. Users who prefer to keep their message content private may find this functionality intrusive.
How to Control Gemini App Access
- Disable Gemini Apps Activity entirely
Open the Gemini app on your Android device. Tap your profile picture (top right) > select “Gemini Apps Activity”. Toggle off the feature to prevent Gemini from accessing any connected apps.
Note: Even after disabling it, Google may keep your data for up to 72 hours “to maintain safety and security of Gemini apps.”
2. Limit access on a per-app basis
In the Gemini app, tap your profile icon > choose “Apps”. You’ll see a list of connected apps—simply deselect any apps you do not want Gemini to monitor.
3. Remove the Gemini app entirely
If you’d rather stop all AI monitoring on your device, uninstalling or disabling the Gemini app will block its ability to track your activity altogether.
