Google Messages is working on a new system to block spam messages that disturb users’ inboxes. Messages aimed at job search fraud, fake cargo deliveries and attempts to steal personal information will be detected and blocked more effectively with this new update. In addition to these features, the application aims to protect users by providing a warning system for images that may contain nudity.
The Sensitive Content Warning feature introduced by Google can be activated depending on the user’s request. When this feature is activated, an image in which nudity is detected will be blurred before being displayed and the user will be warned. On the warning screen, users will be presented with resources and options for help before viewing the image. If a user tries to share an image containing nudity, the application will display a risk warning about this as well.
This update will further strengthen Google Messages’ existing protection features against spam and fraudulent messages. Fake messages, especially job search fraud and fake cargo notifications, will be better detected and blocked with an improved algorithm. Thanks to Google’s “on-device machine learning models”, these scanning processes take place on the user’s device, so Google does not see the content of the messages or forward them anywhere. This process also does not violate end-to-end encryption in RCS (Rich Communication Services) messages. A similar feature was also available with the Communication Security system that Apple introduced for iMessage with iOS 17.
These sensitive content warnings will be enabled by default for users under 18 and will be available in the coming months on devices with 2GB of RAM or more on Android 9 and above.
Another innovation offered to beta users is that the fraud detection system has been further improved. This system will be able to better distinguish fake job offers or fake messages waiting for cargo delivery. This will provide stronger protection against attempts to steal users’ personal information.
Google Messages will evaluate suspicious messages more effectively
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Google Messages was already moving suspicious messages to the spam folder or trying to detect spam messages by warning the user. However, with this new update, suspicious messages will be evaluated more effectively, and thanks to machine learning models on the device, Google will perform these actions without accessing the message contents. Users will also be able to manually report these spam messages.
Google is also working on a new “person verification” feature on the Android platform for next year. With this feature, users will be able to verify the identities of the people they communicate with. This feature, similar to the contact verification system Apple announced for iMessage a few years ago, will allow users to authenticate with public keys.