In the past week, some users discovered that their Android phones had an app called Android System SafetyCore that popped up on their screens. This app is an add-on that allows Google Messages to notify users when receiving or sending explicit images. As a result, some users expressed dissatisfaction with Google’s attempt to monitor usage.
SafetyCore itself does not scan images but uses machine learning to categorize whether an image is explicit or not. Google states that this categorization is done directly on the phone without sending any images back to Google. When Google Messages receives or sends images, if SafetyCore is present on the device, it can blur the images and notify users not to send explicit images. However, users have the option to disable this sensitive content warning feature except for minors who require parental consent to turn off the feature.
Google’s approach differs from Apple’s attempt to scan explicit images on users’ devices in 2021. Google did not disclose any external reporting of such incidents and generally allows users to deactivate this feature. Users may also use it to block explicit images that friends may send to prank them. However, after Google automatically installed this app on users’ devices, it received numerous one-star reviews.
Android System SafetyCore is compatible with Android 9.0 and above. The app was first released on January 22nd. It has now been downloaded over a billion times.
TLDR: Users found an app called Android System SafetyCore on their phones that helps Google Messages detect explicit images, leading to mixed reactions and many one-star reviews.
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