Google has introduced a new safety feature in its Messages app for Android that aims to enhance user protection by detecting and blurring explicit images. This feature is designed to provide a safer messaging experience by proactively identifying and obscuring sensitive content before it is viewed or shared.
Utilizing on-device processing through Android System SafetyCore, the feature ensures that image classification occurs locally without sending any identifiable data or content to Google's servers. Users must be logged into their Google Account within Messages for the tool to be operational.
When a potentially inappropriate image is detected, users are presented with options such as learning about the harmful nature of such images, blocking the sender, viewing the image after confirmation, or returning to the conversation without opening the image. Additionally, the system prompts users when attempting to send or forward explicit images, requiring confirmation before proceeding.
For users aged 18 and above, the feature is disabled by default but can be activated within the Google Messages Settings under Protection & Safety. Supervised accounts and unsupervised teens aged 13-17 have varying controls over enabling or disabling the feature, with parental supervision required for the former.
Apple has also introduced a similar safety measure in iMessage called Communication Safety, primarily aimed at minors. Both Google and Apple's approaches prioritize privacy by executing image detection on-device to maintain confidentiality while enhancing user security.
While this new safety feature in Google Messages may raise concerns about intrusive prompts and manual activation for adults, its emphasis on user protection, particularly for younger audiences, underscores the importance of combatting harmful content. Ultimately, users have the discretion to weigh the benefits of enhanced safety measures against any perceived inconvenience in enabling the feature.
