this post was submitted on 21 Apr 2026
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563
Google Starts Scanning All Your Photos As New Update Goes Live (www.forbes.com)
submitted 2 days ago by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to c/technology@lemmy.world
125 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Google confirms its latest update can scan all your photos to “use actual images of you and your loved ones” in AI image generation. That means Gemini seeing who you know and what you do. You likely have tens or hundreds of thousands of photos. They’re all exposed if you update.

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[–] XLE@piefed.social 46 points 2 days ago (2 children)

The more offensive part is, Google Photos is not only the default image viewer on (Google's) Android, but (Google's) Camera app will only open pictures in it too. So it's cloud crap that's also literally programmed into a lot of people's cameras.

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 38 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Check out https://github.com/CaramelFur/GPhotosShim which stops GCam from using Photos. This is why my gOS uses GCam with network denied (because it works way better on Pixels than the OSS equivalent).

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 7 points 2 days ago

Nice thanks. I was getting annoyed with that and have recently degoogled. The camera appnseems good for pixels though. I might switch back now.

[–] cowboykermit@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago

I was hoping I'd find something like this one day and of course I find it on Lemmy.

Thank you!

[–] AcornTickler@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago

Nice. Unfortunately, it does not offer choosing Immich as an image viewer. I guess this is on Immich to fix, though.

[–] XLE@piefed.social 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I tried this and a recommended fork just now, but I don't think you can use it unless you fully remove the default provider first. I have a locked phone and I think that makes it impossible for me

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Look at adb or LineageOS, otherwise make sure to factor it in for your next phone (second hand + a new battery replacement pack from iFixit works well these days, not as bad as you think doing it, Pixels 8 and above get 7 years of security updates).

[–] XLE@piefed.social 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

The phone in question is the HMD Skyline, which gets a 9/10 on iFixit (and is a 0/10 on the software side, which they conveniently left out)

I'll live without it and probably trade in the repairable phone (lol) but it really is a bummer

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 1 points 2 days ago

0/10 on the software side

Sadly to be assumed these days unless proven otherwise, that or hardcore trapped in a walled garden...

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 0 points 2 days ago

I just tried and the Google camera app uses an internal browser, not the photos app. I think it's something you have set on your device.