diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 3ecc1c14f..6332dfde0 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -91,8 +91,8 @@ android {
     defaultConfig {
         minSdkVersion 21
         targetSdkVersion 32
-        versionCode 42050
-        versionName "2.12.2"
+        versionCode 42051
+        versionName "2.12.2-2"
         archivesBaseName += "-$versionName"
         applicationId "org.snikket.android"
         resValue "string", "applicationId", applicationId
@@ -142,10 +142,12 @@ android {
         playstore {
             dimension "distribution"
             versionNameSuffix "+playstore"
+            buildConfigField "boolean", "CONTACTS_INTEGRATION", "false"
         }
         free {
             dimension "distribution"
             versionNameSuffix "+free"
+            buildConfigField "boolean", "CONTACTS_INTEGRATION", "true"
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/conversationsFree/AndroidManifest.xml b/src/conversationsFree/AndroidManifest.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9fd60596b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/conversationsFree/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools">
+
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS" />
+
+</manifest>
diff --git a/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index c18addf27..984bdc507 100644
--- a/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH_CONNECT" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
-    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PROFILE" />
     <uses-permission
         android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE"
diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/Config.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/Config.java
index f8ad339fc..4f98732ff 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/Config.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/Config.java
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ public static boolean multipleEncryptionChoices() {
 
     public static final long CONTACT_SYNC_RETRY_INTERVAL = 1000L * 60 * 5;
 
+    // 2024-02-14: Contacts integration has been removed from Play Store builds, at least for now,
+    // due to Google aggressively delisting XMPP apps that use it, claiming that the apps are uploading
+    // contact lists to the server (even though they are not).
+    public static final boolean CONTACTS_INTEGRATION = BuildConfig.CONTACTS_INTEGRATION;
 
     public static final boolean QUICKSTART_ENABLED = true;
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ContactDetailsActivity.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ContactDetailsActivity.java
index 7c1d08643..3b234c19e 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ContactDetailsActivity.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ContactDetailsActivity.java
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ public void onCheckedChanged(CompoundButton buttonView, boolean isChecked) {
     private void checkContactPermissionAndShowAddDialog() {
         if (hasContactsPermission()) {
             showAddToPhoneBookDialog();
-        } else if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.M) {
+        } else if (Config.CONTACTS_INTEGRATION && Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.M) {
             requestPermissions(new String[]{Manifest.permission.READ_CONTACTS}, REQUEST_SYNC_CONTACTS);
         }
     }