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Comment by ipsum2

18 days ago

Sorry, that's not correct. Did you check out the link? It doesn't describe the CLI, only the IDE.

"You can find the Gemini Code Assist for individuals privacy notice and settings in two ways:

- VS Code - IntelliJ "

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ipsum2

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mattzito  18 days ago

That's because it's a bit of a nesting doll situation. As you can see here:

https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/tree/main

If you scroll to the bottom, it says that the terms of service are governed based on the mechanism by which you access Gemini. If you access via code assist (which the OP posted), you abide by those privacy terms of code assist, one of the ways of which you access is VScode. If you access via the Gemini API, then those terms apply.

So the gemini CLI (as I understand it) doesn't have their own privacy terms, because it's an open source shell on top of another Gemini system, which could have one of a few different privacy policies based on how you choose to use it and your account settings.

(Note: I work for google, but not on this, this is just my plain reading of the documentation)

tiahura  18 days ago

As a lawyer, I'm confused.

I guess the key question is whether the Gemini CLI, when used with a personal Google account, is governed by the broader Gemini Apps privacy settings here? https://myactivity.google.com/product/gemini?pli=1

If so, it appears it can be turned off. However, my CLI activity isn't showing up there?

Can someone from Google clarify?

  • mattzito  18 days ago

    I am very much not a lawyer, and while I work for Google, I do not work on this, and this is just my plain language reading of the docs.

    When you look at the github repo for the gemini CLI:

    https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/tree/main

    At the bottom it specifies that the terms of service are dependent on the underlying mechanism that the user chooses to use to fulfill the requests. You can use code assist, gemini API, or Vertex AI. My layperson's perspective is that it's positioned as a wrapper around another service, whose terms you already have accepted/enabled. I would imagine that is separate from the Gemini app, the settings for which you linked to.

    Looking at my own settings, my searches on the gemini app appear, but none of my gemini API queries appear.

    • tiahura  18 days ago

      Thanks for trying to clarify.

      However, as others pointed out, that link take you to here: https://developers.google.com/gemini-code-assist/resources/p... Which, at the bottom says: "If you don't want this data used to improve Google's machine learning models, you can opt out by following the steps in Set up Gemini Code Assist for individuals." and links to https://developers.google.com/gemini-code-assist/docs/set-up.... That page says "You'll also see a link to the Gemini Code Assist for individuals privacy notice and privacy settings. This link opens a page where you can choose to opt out of allowing Google to use your data to develop and improve Google's machine learning models. These privacy settings are stored at the IDE level."

      The issue is that there is no IDE, this is the CLI and no such menu options exist.

      2 replies →

fhinkel  18 days ago

Sorry our docs were confusing! We tried to clear things up: https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/blob/main/docs/t...

  • olejorgenb  18 days ago

    "1. Is my code, including prompts and answers, used to train Google's models?

    This depends entirely on the type of auth method you use.

        Auth method 1: Yes. When you use your personal Google account, the Gemini Code Assist Privacy Notice for Individuals applies. Under this notice, your prompts, answers, and related code are collected and may be used to improve Google's products, which includes model training."

    The opt out appear to be about other type of stats, no?

  • dinvlad  17 days ago

    Thanks a lot for clarifying in plain language! Makes sense re basically anything paid is NOT used for training, free - does.

    Off-topic, but I wish this kind of plain language doc existed for Google One vs Google Workspace as well.