Google is introducing several new features to enhance cybersecurity and protect personal information. The most notable of these features is that they are designed to limit the exchange of explicit images.
Google is rolling out a new feature aimed at enhancing user privacy and limiting the sharing of explicit images. Key aspects include:
- Explicit Image Detection: The feature identifies nudity in images and automatically blurs explicit content on users’ devices.
- User Alerts: Users are alerted with a “speed bump” prompt, allowing them to decide if they want to view or share explicit images.
- Privacy Protection: The feature is end-to-end encrypted, ensuring Google cannot access or identify flagged images.
- Mandatory for Minors: The feature is compulsory for users under 18 and optional for adults.
- Availability: Set to launch soon on Android 9+ devices and within the Google Messages app.
This feature is designed to ensure users are fully aware of any nudity in images they intend to send, with explicit photos automatically blurred by default. Google has integrated a sophisticated tool that can detect such content directly on the user’s device, bolstering personal privacy, as highlighted by the British newspaper The Independent.
To uphold user privacy, Google affirms that the content of end-to-end encrypted messages remains confidential, accessible only to the intended recipient on their device.
They further clarify that this sensitive content alert system does not provide Google access to any image data on the user’s device. Google itself remains uninformed if an explicit image is detected.
Upon activation, this feature identifies potentially explicit images before viewing them and introduces a “speed bump” option, prompting users to confirm whether they wish to see or share the content. This prompt will also appear when someone attempts to forward such images, reminding users of the potential risks associated with sharing explicit material. The speed bump provides links and sources of the images, encouraging responsible sharing practices.
While optional for adults, this feature is mandatory for users under the age of 18. Google plans to introduce this feature in the coming months across devices running Android 9 or later, as well as within the Google Messages app.