The scandalous status of GMail app permissions (Privacy anyone?!?)

[AC Question]

Go to settings, Apps.
Forbid all permissions to gmail, just leave contacts and storage.
Remove ALL permissions to Google Play Services app.
Writing a mail using Gmail app becomes a nightmare.
GMail all will continiouusly complain he needs permissions to phone (???), BODY SENSORS (?????) and maaany other. You have NO accesss to Contacts (GMail app has it! Play Services doesn't but hey, it's a MAIL i'm writing!).
ALSO, with previous gmail version it still complained, but at least it had access to contacts; now it does not anymore, leaving app USELESS, still having all permissions it really needs (Contacts, Storage. Do i need to provide Body Sensors permissions to read/write mails?!?! REALLY???)

 

[Tim1954]

Yes, they are very snoopy!

 

[Tim1954]

At least we have granulated permissions since marshmallow so we can block the more intrusive ones. Microsoft is just as bad, they openly admit to selling your details.... That's the price we pay for all that "free" technology.... Revolting

 

[g1142932]

Body sensor!! On a mail app...
And, more incredible, GMail app already *has* contact permission! It's play services who doesn't! AND COMPLAINS!!!
So, GMail app is strongly tied to (at least) Play Services app!
What the heck!!!

Is there something else big G is hiding?!?

 

[ManiacJoe]

Something seems really strange here. The Gmail app (6.11.6.x) on my phone running Android 6.0.x only asks for
- calendar
- contacts
- storage
These are expected for an email app.

 

[hallux]

Something seems really strange here. The Gmail app (6.11.6.x) on my phone running Android 6.0.x only asks for
- calendar
- contacts
- storage
These are expected for an email app.

Same on mine, though I don't have the same version as you (I'm on 6.10 still with no update available in the Play Store). My phone is a Nexus 6P on Nougat.

 

[belodion]

Something seems really strange here. The Gmail app (6.11.6.x) on my phone running Android 6.0.x only asks for
- calendar
- contacts
- storage
These are expected for an email app.

Same here, version 6.10.23x, Nexus 5 running 6.0.1.

 

[g1142932]

Exactly, that's my point
Revoke ALL permissions to *Google Play Services*...
Once you revoke permissions from Google Play Services, *GMail* app (?!?!?!?) will complain not having all those (Contacts, Phone, Body Sensors, ...) permissions!!!

 

[g1142932]

See attachments...

 

[hallux]

Google Play Services is an app that underpins other Google functionality. In fact, it's what underpins your contacts and calendar sync! You're crippling your phone by denying those permissions. Again, that's not the GMAIL app that specifically needs the permissions, Gmail is linking into APIs from Google Play Services and that triggers the warning that you took away permissions from that app so it may not work right.

Some people need to just remove the tinfoil hat already. Google isn't selling your info, but your info MAY be used to display ads that would interest you. That doesn't mean the ad company associates your name or identity with the display of the ad.

See this (short) discussion on the Google ProductForums: https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/docs/-SnGRcwnDvQ

 

[g1142932]

My point is: why do you fake me giving me the opportunity of switching on and off some GMAIL all permissions, when to make GMAIL app work, i need to grant BODY SENSOR (WTF?!?) permission to an app i 1) cannot uninstall 2) has *nothing* to do with sending and receiving emails.
NOT talking from IT guy point of view, i am talking as a customer!

 

[hallux]

That alert isn't saying "Body Sensor" is needed for Gmail, it's saying it's needed for all capabilities of Google Play Services to work. That's not directly associated with Google Play Services to support Gmail, it's just a generic "these are the permissions I WANT and I may not work right if I don't have them", coming from the Google Play Services app when the Gmail app calls an API.

 

[Golfdriver97]

The body sensor permission in Play Services is most likely connected to Smart Lock.

 

[anon(632115)]

As well as Doze and fitness apps

 

[g1142932]

Ok, agreed, i'm with you.
But this still does not explain why GMAIL app does not allow me to write mails using contact name, no autocomplete. Both i know my contact email, or i can't send them emails.
Screw all this body sensors.

I want to write an email
to a person in my contacts
gmail app has access to my contacts
why the hell can't i write them an email without remembering their email address??????

 

[Golfdriver97]

Did you allow Gmail to view your contacts?

 

[chanchan05]

I don't usually use Gmail app, but I opened it for you. When I started typing a contact name, I was asked if I wanted to allow contact suggestions, so I chose yes. It asked me permission to access contacts which I granted. Now I'm getting autocomplete contact name suggestions. You probably forgot to turn on something.

 

[g1142932]

Hey there!
As from my previous messages: have you revoked contact grant to Google Play Service?

 

[g1142932]

As from screenshot above, yes