this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2025
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[–] Professorozone@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

I'm pretty sure I disabled/removed it when I got this phone. I don't specifically remember doing it but when I get a new phone, I watch some YouTube videos on how to purge all the crap I don't want.

I read an article that mentioned using command line stuff to eliminate it and it kind looked familiar. I think I did this. I really should write stuff down.

[–] VeloRama@feddit.org 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I have Android 16 on a Pixel 8 but no Gemini. Is it not installed if I chose "No thanks" when I got the info screens about it?

[–] nulluser@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Open settings, and search for"Gemini" from the search bar. That's the only way I was able to get to anything Gemini related. I turned off it's access to everything from there, then the last setting was to switch back to assistant which appears to have turned Gemini off, but who knows (hence disabling it's access to everything anyway).

[–] VeloRama@feddit.org 1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

With search there's only a single "Gemini Settings" that is found. That opens a wizard for me. On the second page, after scrolling all the way down, I can select "No thanks". That's what I was referring to. I was wondering if that's enough.

[–] nulluser@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

These instructions are awful. There's no Gemini listed in my apps, and Settings > Apps doesn't show it either. But if I search for "Gemini" in settings, THEN it shows up, but doesn't have access to anything the article says to do.

However, from that screen, I was able to apparently turn off its access to everything, and switch back to assistant, which appears to have turned it off completely, but who knows if it's still lurking in the background.

[–] MITM0@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Privacy-conscious Indians are gonna have a nightmare. Indians excessively use whatsapp.

[–] Draedron@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Everyone outside of the US uses whatsapp.

[–] bent@feddit.dk 1 points 6 days ago

In Norway we use Facebook Messenger, which is worse. Wattsapp's at least usable as a messaging platform for more than 1-to-1 communication

[–] dekomote@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Viber is more popular in eastern europe

[–] hornedfiend@sopuli.xyz 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] dekomote@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

Still is. At least in my country its probably more popular than the rest of them combined.

[–] Dojan@pawb.social 86 points 1 week ago

What I hate most about this is the lack of control over this it implies. Sure, maybe you don’t install this on your device, but all that’s needed for Google to access your messages now is for someone you message to have it installed and enabled, then anything you send to them will be gobbled up by Google.

[–] sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 70 points 1 week ago (17 children)

If the Gemini app is not installed, it can't do this right

[–] VitabytesDev@feddit.nl 1 points 6 days ago

laughs in LineageOS

[–] Maestro@fedia.io 42 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Gemini was automatically installed for me, and the app connections were all enabled, like the article describes. Better check and be safe than to be sorry

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[–] r00ty@kbin.life 24 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This is my assumption too. It's disabled for me. I have no plans to change that.

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[–] chellomere@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago (4 children)

I'm rather confused. I don't have any app called Gemini installed, but despite this "Hey Google" brings up Gemini. So I have no app to disable, and no way to turn off interaction with other apps. This is on a Samsung A55 in Europe, happily taking advice on how to proceed.

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 1 points 6 days ago

I found settings for it in my phone's settings menu, so yeah, no standalone app you can disable or remove. They baked it into the OS.

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[–] carrylex@lemmy.world 40 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Me on my de-googled phone:

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[–] slowbyrne@lemmy.zip 38 points 1 week ago (7 children)

For those on Pixel devices, check out GrapheneOS. If not CalyxOS or LineageOS

Its important that we have devices that we control. If your phone doesn't allow bootloader unlock so you can install a different operating system, that's a problem. Claims that security is compromised if bootloaders can be unlocked are just companies using a convenient excuse to maintain control over a device you paid for.

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[–] zecg@lemmy.world 24 points 1 week ago (2 children)

They'd have to install it first.

[–] whimsy@lemmy.zip 19 points 1 week ago

Google play services says bonjour

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