You remember Apple succumbing to public pressure and quietly never implementing it in the first place?

Edit: I’m gonna make a big addendum to this comment. While Apple *did* scrap plans for CSAM detection due to public pressure, they did implement an on-device mechanism for blurring “sensitive content.” A feature much like the one on Android in the original post here, although I’ve yet to find much transparency on the Android apps’ workings. This on-device functionality works like face detection, so if you’re okay with that there’s little reason to be alarmed.

Its time to renew my project to de-google my phone. Its hard since I'm still in the US and most good phone are in the EU.

any recommendation on a good phone to start with?

@e_mydata, You got us covered, right?

@jack

@lies_das Good question. I'm sure they'll do it again, unless there's massive public pressure.

And like @empathicqubit said, they might even make it a certification requirement for android.

@tritol128 The documentation has already been mentioned twice in this thread. But here's a link to a somewhat less technical summary:

androidauthority.com/google-me…

Here's how Google is letting Messages warn you about nudes - Android Authority

Google is rolling out Android System SafetyCore, and it'll power the upcoming Sensitive Content Warnings feature in Messages.

^{Mishaal Rahman (Android Authority)}

There is no mention of results from the scan being shared with Google right?

That seems like a very big difference. As long as any action taken from scanning images locally is also entierly local I do not see a big concern.

That is the way to implement features like warning people of potential scams or (silly American purity) features like blurring nudity.

This is misinformation. If you read what Google actually wrote, it only notifies the user of nudity. Google specifically say that it doesn't notify them.

Of course Google might be lying, but there is no evidence here of any new risk.

I'm not a big Google fan but this doesn't look the same. It is a feature released in October to (e.g.) mask unsolicited dick pics in RCS chat., disabled by default. Obligatory your threat model != my threat model.

security.googleblog.com/2024/1…
"...doesn’t allow Google access to the contents of your images, nor does Google know that nudity may have been detected"

5 new protections on Google Messages to help keep you safe

Posted by Jan Jedrzejowicz, Director of Product, Android and Business Communications; Alberto Pastor Nieto, Sr. Product Manager Google Messa...

^{Google Online Security Blog}

Welcome to my FUD list.

To cite Google (via the page you linked):

Sensitive Content Warnings is an optional feature that blurs images that may contain nudity before viewing, and then prompts with a “speed bump” that contains help-finding resources and options, including to view the content. When the feature is enabled, and an image that may contain nudity is about to be sent or forwarded, it also provides a speed bump to remind users of the risks of sending nude imagery and preventing accidental shares.

All of this happens on-device to protect your privacy and keep end-to-end encrypted message content private to only sender and recipient. Sensitive Content Warnings doesn’t allow Google access to the contents of your images, nor does Google know that nudity may have been detected. This feature is opt-in for adults, managed via Android Settings, and is opt-out for users under 18 years of age. Sensitive Content Warnings will be rolling out to Android 9+ devices including Android Go devices with Google Messages in the coming months.

To those who are curious about the app and can't find the proper documentation I found this video explainer. youtube.com/watch?v=1rdlTveD8F…

I understand some people may feel the pic blurring is useful for them but in the privacy community Google does not have a good rep & is known for sneaking new features into Android to get more of your private info. It may not seem bad now but new capabilities could be added later without warning.

What is the Android System SafetyCore App & Why is it on my Device?

If you have noticed this application on your device, let me tell you about what it does.~~~~~Hi! Don't forget to like the video, subscribe to the channel, an...

^YouTube