Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Google Messages is rolling out delicate content material warnings, which might detect and blur photos which will include nudity.
- Adults can decide in, however the characteristic is on by default for teenagers and supervised customers.
- All detection occurs on-device by way of SafetyCore, with no picture knowledge despatched to Google.
After being in the works for several months, Google is lastly beginning to roll out delicate content material warnings in Messages. The long-awaited characteristic is designed to detect and blur nude photos earlier than customers see them, and forestall unintended sharing.
The replace was noticed by 9to5Google, with the controls showing beneath Safety & Security > Handle delicate content material warnings inside the app’s settings menu. Whereas this method was introduced final 12 months and Google claimed it began rolling out in February, it’s solely now exhibiting up on some units, and the rollout seems restricted to the beta model thus far.
When lively, the characteristic mechanically blurs photos which will include nudity, provides you the selection to view, block the sender, or be taught extra concerning the dangers. There’s additionally an choice to reblur the picture after previewing. A separate warning seems while you attempt to ship or ahead probably nude photos, reminding you of the dangers and requiring affirmation earlier than continuing.
No photos are despatched to Google’s servers.
Delicate content material warnings are opt-in for adults, however they’re enabled by default for youngsters. For supervised accounts, the setting can’t be turned off in any respect, although mother and father can management it by way of Google’s Household Hyperlink. Unsupervised teenagers from ages 13 to 17 can disable it manually by their Google Account settings.
Importantly, all content material detection occurs on-device by Android’s SafetyCore system, that means not one of the photos or classification outcomes are despatched to Google’s servers. The characteristic doesn’t at present apply to movies and can solely perform when an app like Messages actively calls the SafetyCore service.
