Google Gemini Can Read Your WhatsApp Chats — Here’s How to Stop It
Gemini’s New Access May Be a Privacy Wake-Up Call
In a recent update, Google has quietly given its AI assistant Gemini access to popular apps like WhatsApp, Messages, and Phone — even if you’ve turned off Gemini’s activity tracking. This means unless you manually disable these settings, Gemini can read message previews, draft replies, and more.
Many Android users are now discovering that Gemini is automatically enabled to interact with their private communication apps. While Google claims this helps deliver smarter assistance, the move has raised concerns over user privacy.
What Gemini Can Access
Here’s what Gemini might see and do by default:
| Feature | Access Enabled By Default? |
|---|---|
| WhatsApp Message Previews | ✅ Yes |
| Reading App Notifications | ✅ Yes |
| Drafting Messages or Replies | ✅ Yes |
| App Activity Logging | ❌ No (disabled by default) |
Even if Gemini Apps Activity is switched off, Gemini may temporarily store data for up to 72 hours to improve performance. This includes message content, recent calls, and more.
Privacy advocates warn this gives Google too much control without proper user awareness.
How to Turn It Off
To stop Gemini from accessing WhatsApp and other apps:
- Open the Gemini app on your Android phone.
- Tap your profile icon (top-right corner).
- Go to Apps.
- Toggle off WhatsApp, Messages, and Phone.
- Optionally, return to Gemini Apps Activity and ensure it’s turned off.
- If concerned, you can even disable or uninstall Gemini from Settings or via ADB tools.
Did You Know?
Gemini can access your messages even if Gemini Apps Activity is off — unless you manually revoke app access.
Should You Be Worried?
Yes, especially if you value privacy. While Gemini doesn’t train on your data unless you opt in, its default access may surprise many users. Google says this improves AI assistance, but it comes at the cost of transparency.
With just a few steps, you can block Gemini from peeking into your messages. Until then, it may already be watching — even if you didn’t ask it to.
