Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Google Messages is rolling out delicate content material warnings, which might detect and blur photographs which will comprise nudity.
- Adults can decide in, however the characteristic is on by default for teenagers and supervised customers.
- All detection occurs on-device through SafetyCore, with no picture knowledge despatched to Google.
After being within the works for a number of 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 photographs earlier than customers see them, and stop unintended sharing.
The replace was noticed by 9to5Google, with the controls showing underneath Safety & Security > Handle delicate content material warnings inside the app’s settings menu. Whereas this method was introduced final yr 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 to this point.
When lively, the characteristic mechanically blurs photographs which will comprise nudity, offers you the selection to view, block the sender, or be taught extra in regards to the dangers. There’s additionally an choice to reblur the picture after previewing. A separate warning seems once you attempt to ship or ahead probably nude photographs, reminding you of the dangers and requiring affirmation earlier than continuing.
No photographs 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 through 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 photographs or classification outcomes are despatched to Google’s servers. The characteristic doesn’t presently apply to movies and can solely perform when an app like Messages actively calls the SafetyCore service.
