On September 28, a crucial privacy warning emerged for the 2 billion Chrome users as Google’s latest integration, Gemini, began collecting sensitive user data such as name, location, device ID, browsing history, and product interactions. Surfshark revealed that using Chrome with Gemini leads to the collection of 24 distinct data types, more than most competing browsers like Microsoft Edge, which gathers significantly less. The alarm raised by Surfshark highlights concerns over users’ privacy with agentic AI extensions like ChatGPT. Additionally, Google’s new image editing tool, Nano Banana, may integrate into Google Photos, amplifying data privacy fears. Despite Google’s assurances that users have control over when Gemini activates, the underlying data collection continues unabated. With calls from Apple to shift from Chrome to Safari for enhanced privacy, users must recognize the implications of utilizing these free AI tools, which often come at the cost of personal data. Managing Chrome settings can help limit exposure, but complete opt-out is elusive.
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