Lemmy.World

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/25202993

This was Likely Recently Auto-Installed on your Phone.

This morning I noticed that an app was silently installed on my device. Android System Safetycore.

So what is this app for? Supposedly it is designed to blur any images that are sent to or from you the user.

Android Authority Article Snippet

Sensitive Content Warnings is another new Google Messages feature that Google is announcing today. It’s a feature that gives you more control over seeing and sending images that may contain nudity. Sensitive Content Warning blurs images that may contain nudity before viewing them, and it then prompts you with a “speed bump” that contains “help-finding resources and options, including to view the content.” When it’s enabled and you try to send or forward an image that may contain nudity, Google Messages will also show a “speed bump” that reminds you of the risks of sending nude imagery. - Android Authority

The feature seems to be geared towards google messages.

However why this needed to be a seperate app isn't really known. Why not just a feature within the google messages app? Google gives no explanation.

Another Android Authority Snippet

Warnings check runs entirely on-device, it didn’t mention that it will actually be powered by an entirely separate app and not Google Messages itself. - Android Authority

Google claims it runs entirely on your phone. Whether that's true? ¯_(ツ)_/¯

According to my device, the app can have internet access restricted to it (via phone settings) implying that the app does have internet access. Any apps that dont have internet access wouldn't be in my settings list for restricting network access.

Here's the developer page. Not much in terms of detail going on there.

Here is the app on Play store with its further lacking detail and currently plunging reviews. Interestingly it seems the app has many good odd sounding reviews. Furthermore, all the new reviews are very negative. The app was 3.8 this morning. Plunging.

The whole concept of the feature isn't a bad one. However, I certainly dont wish for it to be automatically installed on my device as a seperate app. A feature that is supposedly for a messaging platform that I don't even have activated on my device.

I removed it myself as it can be uninstalled. It doesn't show up on play store by search, however you can look up the app link online and get a direct link to it. Which I put here.

Spyware? A helpful feature? I don't want it on my phone anyways.

(Yes this is a repost, I hope it isn't considered spam. Yes I did also delete the original one :/ . Goodnight 🥱!)

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

This morning I noticed that an app was silently installed on my device. Android System Safetycore.

So what is this app for? Supposedly it is designed to blur any images that are sent to or from you the user.

The feature seems to be geared towards google messages.

However why this needed to be a seperate app isn't really known. Why not just a feature within the google messages app? Google gives no explanation.

Google claims it runs entirely on your phone. Whether that's true? ¯_(ツ)_/¯

According to my device, the app can have internet access restricted to it (via phone settings) implying that the app does have internet access. Any apps that dont have internet access wouldn't be in my settings list for restricting network access.

Here's the developer page. Not much in terms of detail going on there.

Here is the app on Play store with its further lacking detail and currently plunging reviews. Interestingly it seems the app has many good odd sounding reviews. Furthermore, all the new reviews are very negative. The app was 3.8 this morning. Plunging.

The whole concept of the feature isn't a bad one. However, I certainly dont wish for it to be automatically installed on my device as a seperate app. A feature that is supposedly for a messaging platform that I don't even have activated on my device.

I removed it myself as it can be uninstalled. It doesn't show up on play store by search, however you can look up the app link online and get a direct link to it. Which I put here.

Spyware? A helpful feature? I don't want it on my phone anyways.

(Yes this is a repost, I hope it isn't considered spam. Yes I did also delete the original one :/ . Goodnight 🥱!)

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/25156749

I woke up this morning to find a new little friend on my phone! Android Safety Core.

So what is this great new application that was non-consentually installed on my device with no indicator that it ever was except an alert from Tracker Control.

There isn't a of information on it, but essentially its an app that "protects" you from obscene images on your phone.

"One of the new features the company announced is called Sensitive Content Warnings. This is designed to give you more control over seeing and sending nude images. When enabled, it blurs images that might contain nudity before you view them and then prompts you with what Google calls a “speed bump” containing “help-finding resources and options, including to view the content.” The feature also kicks in and shows a so-called “speed bump” when you try to send or forward an image that might contain nudity." - Android Authority

As for the Google play description, it's very detailed about what your new friend entails.

Very descriptive.

So essentially it blurs any images of nudity that is sent to you or that is seen.

Obviously the app has to see all the images that are sent to you in order to do this. I'm sure this won't be abused!

The Google reviews on this one sure aren't happy.

You may want to remove this. It can be uninstalled. However to find it on the store you need to look up the link in your browser. I also provided it here.

Dont we all love google and what it does behind our backs for us?

TL;DR

Google recently non-consentually installed a new "safety" feature on our devices that blur any nude images that are sent to you or seen on your phone. They didn't include any sort of update alert or anything and simply slipped it onto devices quietly. Here's a link to the app where you can uninstall if you wish. Of course in order for an app to do this, it needs to see every photo that is ever sent to you. A clear privacy invasion if I say so myself.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/25156749

I woke up this morning to find a new little friend on my phone! Android Safety Core.

So what is this great new application that was non-consentually installed on my device with no indicator that it ever was except an alert from Tracker Control.

There isn't a of information on it, but essentially its an app that "protects" you from obscene images on your phone.

"One of the new features the company announced is called Sensitive Content Warnings. This is designed to give you more control over seeing and sending nude images. When enabled, it blurs images that might contain nudity before you view them and then prompts you with what Google calls a “speed bump” containing “help-finding resources and options, including to view the content.” The feature also kicks in and shows a so-called “speed bump” when you try to send or forward an image that might contain nudity." - Android Authority

As for the Google play description, it's very detailed about what your new friend entails.

Very descriptive.

So essentially it blurs any images of nudity that is sent to you or that is seen.

Obviously the app has to see all the images that are sent to you in order to do this. I'm sure this won't be abused!

The Google reviews on this one sure aren't happy.

You may want to remove this. It can be uninstalled. However to find it on the store you need to look up the link in your browser. I also provided it here.

Dont we all love google and what it does behind our backs for us?

TL;DR

Google recently non-consentually installed a new "safety" feature on our devices that blur any nude images that are sent to you or seen on your phone. They didn't include any sort of update alert or anything and simply slipped it onto devices quietly. Here's a link to the app where you can uninstall if you wish. Of course in order for an app to do this, it needs to see every photo that is ever sent to you. A clear privacy invasion if I say so myself.