A major privacy shift is quietly rolling out on Android devices. Starting July 7, 2025, Google's AI chatbot Gemini can now access and interact with apps like WhatsApp, Messages, Phone, and Utilities by default — even if the Gemini Apps Activity setting is turned off.

Google claims this update enhances user convenience, allowing Gemini to help send messages, set timers, and initiate calls without needing tracking to be on. However, privacy experts warn that the automatic nature of this rollout raises serious concerns. Personal data, including chat content, may still be processed and temporarily stored for up to 72 hours, sparking backlash from encrypted email provider Tuta and other privacy advocates.

Google says users can still disable Gemini’s connection to third-party apps by visiting gemini.google.com/apps or through device settings. But unless you manually opt out, Gemini’s app integrations remain active by default. Some users are even considering removing Gemini entirely through developer tools to ensure full privacy protection.

This change comes at a time when trust in AI assistants is under growing scrutiny. While Google maintains that Gemini will not use data to train AI models when activity tracking is off, experts argue the feature rollout should have been more transparent and user-controlled from the beginning.

If you're an Android user concerned about your privacy, take action now — before Gemini does more than you expect.