Gemini AI Will Soon Access Calls and Messages on Your Android Even If Turned Off

Google's Gemini team is informing Android users about a big (and scary) change coming soon. According to an email sent to some users, starting July 7, 2025, Gemini is to have access to Phones, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities on Android phones, regardless of whether Gemini Apps Activity is turned on or off:

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.

This definitely raises privacy concerns because the email does not clearly explain what "help you use" these apps will actually mean.

The message says that those who do not want these changes can turn them off on the Apps settings page, but it does not give details on how to find this option or what exactly will be disabled.

We're not sure yet whether Gemini will be able to read or send messages, access call logs, or interact with third-party apps like WhatsApp by default, even for users who have opted out of Gemini Apps Activity.

Google's current privacy documentation says that when Gemini Apps Activity is off, data may still be kept for up to 72 hours for quality and security reasons. If the setting is on, data is stored for up to 18 months and may be reviewed by humans, with personal identifiers removed, as reported by Android Authority. The company warns users not to share confidential information with Gemini, as some conversations may be reviewed for up to three years.

And the worst part is, this comes out in less than two weeks, on July 7.