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467 points bundie | 7 comments | | HN request time: 0.688s | source | bottom
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bix6 ◴[] No.44501849[source]
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.
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1. IncreasePosts ◴[] No.44501908[source]
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.

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2. shortn ◴[] No.44501967[source]
RTFA.

Don't act like your opinion is the only one that matters. You may not, but other people do care about their privacy.

"Here's the thing: Google promises that under normal circumstances, Gemini cannot read or summarize your WhatsApp messages. But, and this is a big but, with the "help" of the Google Assistant or the Utilities app, it may view your messages (including images), read and respond to your WhatsApp notifications, and more."

Doesn't matter what your opinion is on privacy, google doesn't give you the option to opt out. - "regardless of whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off."

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3. VohuMana ◴[] No.44502005[source]
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
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4. jeroenhd ◴[] No.44502124[source]
The article claims Gemini can read your messages but Google denies that. From Google's own documentation:

> What Gemini can’t do with WhatsApp

> Read or summarize your messages

> Add or read images, gifs, or memes in your messages

> Add or play audio or videos in your messages

> Read or respond to WhatsApp notifications

Of course, it's possible neowin says Google is lying, but they'll need to come up with something better than "maybe something may happen in the future" if they're going to make these claims.

5. jeroenhd ◴[] No.44502139[source]
Google's own documentation explicitly states it cannot read your messages or notifications. You can ask it to compose a message for you or start a call, though.
6. bee_rider ◴[] No.44502381[source]
One problem with this sort of thing is that—sure, we can call privacy violation an opinion and admit that some people have dumb opinions like “I don’t need any privacy.” But unfortunately only one person needs to let the privacy violation bot into the conversation to violate everybody’s privacy, so it isn’t as if your opinion will really be respected.

Of course, the easy solution is that nobody has conversations that might need privacy anymore; people can just always be in public persona mode. Hopefully we don’t end up with a society made up of inauthentic lonely people as a result.

7. IncreasePosts ◴[] No.44503716[source]
It seems like OP (bix6) is the one who needs to be lectured that their opinion isn't the only one that matters, not me. My point is that different people have different opinions. Just because someone thinks an app violates their privacy doesn't mean they get to unilaterally decide the app shouldn't exist.

If someone is concerned with their privacy by this feature, then they can just not use it. If someone is concerned that someone else might use this feature on private communications they had with the user, then that person misunderstands privacy and needs to realize that once they communicate their remarks to some other party, their ability to control their privacy to their own standards goes out the window generally, and not just with AI apps.