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Google can now read your WhatsApp messages

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Re: Google can now read your WhatsApp messages

#31
post #5

> With Gemini Apps Activity turned off, their Gemini chats are not being reviewed or used to improve our AI models. Indeed bizarre as the statement doesn't say much about data collection or retention. More generally, I'm conflicted here -- I'm big on personal privacy but the power & convenience that AI will bring will probably be too great to overcome. I'm hoping that powerful, locally-run AI models will become a mai…

Personally, I prefer AI to stay in its own corner. Let ChatGPT, Gemini, and the rest be something I open when I need them, like a website or an app. I'm not really into the whole "everything should have AI built into it" idea. It kind of reminds me of how the internet used to be. Back then, you had to go to a specific room to use the family computer. The internet was something you visited. Now, tech is everywhere, fr…

It's going the opposite direction. AI won't be inside each different thing, instead everything else will be nested under the AI. Like Gemini here. AI will have user-equivalent access to interact with any app. It will be the default and people will not mind it because it's convenient and if you have nothing to hide.

Re: Google can now read your WhatsApp messages

#34
I wonder what meta will do, they recently introduced meta ai inside WhatsApp (even though I didn’t enable it, or asked for it), it’s just floating there.

With Gemini having access, those who are happy to give AI access to their apps would surely prefer Gemini as it will be phone wide instead of meta ai which only runs inside WhatsApp.

Re: Google can now read your WhatsApp messages

#35
post #7

These big tech companies are so frustrating. Why does every single aspect of our digital lives need to be monitored? It’s like whack a mole trying to get the most basic of privacy.

Monetization. If people aren’t willing to pay for the products, these companies have figured out how to make the customers’ data the product.

You can pay for Google services. But even if you pay for Google One or YouTube premium, I'm sure that Google will still track your behavior and mine your data. Why would a company not "double-dip"?

Re: Google can now read your WhatsApp messages

#36
post #7

These big tech companies are so frustrating. Why does every single aspect of our digital lives need to be monitored? It’s like whack a mole trying to get the most basic of privacy.

What exactly is being monitored? It looks like this enabled Gemini to send a message via Whatsapp if you ask it to. Maybe the problem is what you consider a privacy violation, other users consider a feature.

I think if I understand the article correctly it sounds like Google might also be reading the messages so it can respond for you. Regardless I think the other thing people might not be happy about is Gemini can still interact with apps regardless of if you have app activity turned on or off, as quoted from the linked email in the article: What's changing 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

Re: Google can now read your WhatsApp messages

#37
post #7

These big tech companies are so frustrating. Why does every single aspect of our digital lives need to be monitored? It’s like whack a mole trying to get the most basic of privacy.

Monetization. If people aren’t willing to pay for the products, these companies have figured out how to make the customers’ data the product.

[deleted]

Re: Google can now read your WhatsApp messages

#39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Monetization. If people aren’t willing to pay for the products, these companies have figured out how to make the customers’ data the product.

You can pay for Google services. But even if you pay for Google One or YouTube premium, I'm sure that Google will still track your behavior and mine your data. Why would a company not "double-dip"?

Even better, by paying you prove that you have disposable income. You are a more attractive cow for advertisers to milk.
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