New Google search update wants open access to audio, camera and video!!

[SHIVA77]

The audacity of Google has no limit.

Their latest update to the Google search App is now requiring, and not needing our permission, free and open access to the phone mic, photo and video camera. Meaning they want to be able to record sound and take pics or video anytime they desire.

And I don't see a way to refuse their request short of not updating the search or just removing Google search all together.

Anyone knows a way around this? A way to disable their access to the phone audio/visual?

"... anytime without your confirmation"

 

[ScandaLeX]

The audacity of Google has no limit.

Their latest update to the Google search App is now requiring, and not needing our permission, free and open access to the phone mic, photo and video camera. Meaning they want to be able to record sound and take pics or video anytime they desire.

And I don't see a way to refuse their request short of not updating the search or just removing Google search all together.

Anyone knows a way around this? A way to disable their access to the phone audio/visual?

I'm a bit confused. Do you use your mic for anything?

 

[Tomo1971]

The audacity of Google has no limit.

Their latest update to the Google search App is now requiring, and not needing our permission, free and open access to the phone mic, photo and video camera. Meaning they want to be able to record sound and take pics or video anytime they desire.

And I don't see a way to refuse their request short of not updating the search or just removing Google search all together.

Anyone knows a way around this? A way to disable their access to the phone audio/visual?

Is it possible they want access to the mic so you can use voice to search?

Is it possible they want access to your camera to image search (Google goggles)?

Just a thought.....

 

[SHIVA77]

I don't think you guys understood my note.

Read the following very carefully.

New Google search app update waiting on your phone to be updated, will have open access to use at "any time" (their word) your mic, your photo and video camera. To be used by Google, any time they wish without needing authorization, nor your permission.

 

[Rtlsnksteve]

New Google search app update waiting on your phone to be updated, will have open access to use at "any time" (their word) your mic, your photo and video camera. To be used by Google, any time they wish without needing authorization, nor your permission.

You got a link to this that we could read and interpret for ourselves?

 

[Rtlsnksteve]

I went and checked it out myself. If you're worried about the camera and mic you must have never read the permissions before. Google already knows everything through the following permission.

This application has access to the following:

• Your accounts contacts data in Google accounts

• 
  Allows apps to access the contacts and profile information of account(s) stored on this Android device.
  add or remove accounts
  Allows the app to perform operations like adding and removing accounts, and deleting their password.
  use accounts on the device
  Allows the app to request authentication tokens.
• Services that cost you money directly call phone numbers
  Allows the app to call phone numbers without your intervention. This may result in unexpected charges or calls. Note that this doesn't allow the app to call emergency numbers. Malicious apps may cost you money by making calls without your confirmation.
  send SMS messages
  Allows the app to send SMS messages. This may result in unexpected charges. Malicious apps may cost you money by sending messages without your confirmation.
• Hardware controls take pictures and videos
  Allows the app to take pictures and videos with the camera. This permission allows the app to use the camera at any time without your confirmation.
  change your audio settings
  Allows the app to modify global audio settings such as volume and which speaker is used for output.
• Your location approximate location (network-based)
  Allows the app to get your approximate location. This location is derived by location services using network location sources such as cell towers and Wi-Fi. These location services must be turned on and available to your device for the app to use them. Apps may use this to determine approximately where you are.
  precise location (GPS and network-based)
  Allows the app to get your precise location using the Global Positioning System (GPS) or network location sources such as cell towers and Wi-Fi. These location services must be turned on and available to your device for the app to use them. Apps may use this to determine where you are, and may consume additional battery power.
• Your messages edit your text messages (SMS or MMS)
  Allows the app to write to SMS messages stored on your tablet or SIM card. Malicious apps may delete your messages. Allows the app to write to SMS messages stored on your phone or SIM card. Malicious apps may delete your messages.
  read your text messages (SMS or MMS)
  Allows the app to read SMS messages stored on your tablet or SIM card. This allows the app to read all SMS messages, regardless of content or confidentiality. Allows the app to read SMS messages stored on your phone or SIM card. This allows the app to read all SMS messages, regardless of content or confidentiality.
• Network communication control Near Field Communication
  Allows the app to communicate with Near Field Communication (NFC) tags, cards, and readers.
  pair with Bluetooth devices
  Allows the app to view the configuration of Bluetooth on the tablet, and to make and accept connections with paired devices. Allows the app to view the configuration of the Bluetooth on the phone, and to make and accept connections with paired devices.
  full network access
  Allows the app to create network sockets and use custom network protocols. The browser and other applications provide means to send data to the internet, so this permission is not required to send data to the internet.
• Your personal information read sensitive log data
  Allows the app to read from the system's various log files. This allows it to discover general information about what you are doing with the tablet, potentially including personal or private information. Allows the app to read from the system's various log files. This allows it to discover general information about what you are doing with the phone, potentially including personal or private information.
  read your contacts
  Allows the app to read data about your contacts stored on your tablet, including the frequency with which you've called, emailed, or communicated in other ways with specific individuals. This permission allows apps to save your contact data, and malicious apps may share contact data without your knowledge. Allows the app to read data about your contacts stored on your phone, including the frequency with which you've called, emailed, or communicated in other ways with specific individuals. This permission allows apps to save your contact data, and malicious apps may share contact data without your knowledge.
  read calendar events plus confidential information
  Allows the app to read all calendar events stored on your tablet, including those of friends or co-workers. This may allow the app to share or save your calendar data, regardless of confidentiality or sensitivity. Allows the app to read all calendar events stored on your phone, including those of friends or co-workers. This may allow the app to share or save your calendar data, regardless of confidentiality or sensitivity.
  add or modify calendar events and send email to guests without owners' knowledge
  Allows the app to add, remove, change events that you can modify on your tablet, including those of friends or co-workers. This may allow the app to send messages that appear to come from calendar owners, or modify events without the owners' knowledge. Allows the app to add, remove, change events that you can modify on your phone, including those of friends or co-workers. This may allow the app to send messages that appear to come from calendar owners, or modify events without the owners' knowledge.
  read your Web bookmarks and history
  Allows the app to read the history of all URLs that the Browser has visited, and all of the Browser's bookmarks. Note: this permission may not be enforced by third-party browsers or other applications with web browsing capabilities.
• Storage modify or delete the contents of your USB storage modify or delete the contents of your SD card
  Allows the app to write to the USB storage. Allows the app to write to the SD card.
• System tools prevent tablet from sleeping prevent phone from sleeping
  Allows the app to prevent the tablet from going to sleep. Allows the app to prevent the phone from going to sleep.
  modify system settings
  Allows the app to modify the system's settings data. Malicious apps may corrupt your system's configuration.
• Your accounts find accounts on the device
• Allows the app to get the list of accounts known by the tablet. This may include any accounts created by applications you have installed. Allows the app to get the list of accounts known by the phone. This may include any accounts created by applications you have installed.
• view configured accounts
  Allows apps to see the usernames (email addresses) of the Google account(s) you have configured.
  read Google service configuration
  Allows this app to read Google service configuration data.
• Hardware controls control vibration
  Allows the app to control the vibrator.
• Your messages Send Gmail
  Allows the app to send Gmail messages without opening the Gmail app.
• Network communication view Wi-Fi connections
  Allows the app to view information about Wi-Fi networking, such as whether Wi-Fi is enabled and name of connected Wi-Fi devices.
  view network connections
  Allows the app to view information about network connections such as which networks exist and are connected.
• Your personal information set an alarm
  Allows the app to set an alarm in an installed alarm clock app. Some alarm clock apps may not implement this feature.
• System tools run at startup
  Allows the app to have itself started as soon as the system has finished booting. This can make it take longer to start the tablet and allow the app to slow down the overall tablet by always running. Allows the app to have itself started as soon as the system has finished booting. This can make it take longer to start the phone and allow the app to slow down the overall phone by always running.
  read sync settings
  Allows the app to read the sync settings for an account. For example, this can determine whether the People app is synced with an account.
• Default test access to protected storage test access to protected storage
  Allows the app to test a permission for USB storage that will be available on future devices. Allows the app to test a permission for the SD card that will be available on future devices.
  Read Google settings
  Allows this app to read Google settings.
  Modify Google settings
  Allows this app to modify Google settings.
  modify secure system settings
  Allows the app to modify the system's secure settings data. Not for use by normal apps.
  read your own contact card
  Allows the app to read personal profile information stored on your device, such as your name and contact information. This means the app can identify you and may send your profile information to others.
  read call log
  Allows the app to read your tablet's call log, including data about incoming and outgoing calls. This permission allows apps to save your call log data, and malicious apps may share call log data without your knowledge. Allows the app to read your phone's call log, including data about incoming and outgoing calls. This permission allows apps to save your call log data, and malicious apps may share call log data without your knowledge.

Looks like you need to do your research before using products.

 

[lcneed]

It is really an Android App thing rather than a Google Search thing. If any Android App that needs access to your camera, I think you see the same permission statement that it will have full access to everything the camera sees. It is the same thing if you download a game like Angry Bird. It said that it will have Full Internet Access on your phone, but it really only use it for very small amount of things required by the app.

Is Google really going to look thru you camera in the middle of night to see what you are doing? I have no idea. But most of the time my phone is my pocket or facing screen up on the desk, so there is really not much to see.

 

[lcneed]

I am not sure you understand how Google Play store works. Any App (Doesn't matter if it is from Google or not) in the store that uses the camera on the phone will have the same Hardware controls permission listed:

Allows the app to take picture and videos with the camera. This permission allows the app to use the camera at any time without your confirmation.

Just go and search any app that uses the camera like Instagram or CamScan or anything. It is a generic permission on Google Play store.

The only reason it is showing up now with this update is because the Google Search app started a new function Search by Camera that uses the phone's camera.

 

[EarlyMon]

Read the following very carefully.

New Google search app update waiting on your phone to be updated, will have open access to use at "any time" (their word) your mic, your photo and video camera. To be used by Google, any time they wish without needing authorization, nor your permission.

Exactly.

That means that when you go use voice search or goggles, the functions connect.

Without a separate dialog asking for your permission each and every time.

If you don't like that, root your phone and give this a go -

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stericson.permissions.donate

OP, sorry that others did not share your sense of what's wrong there.

But the flame war that happened as a result was just too much.

Thread cleaned, other actions taken as well, decided not to move this to applications for a repeat performance.

Anyone got a problem with the lock, drop me a line, my door's always open.