Google announces new protection measures

More than a billion people use Google Messages every day to talk with family, friends or colleagues. Most of us have received a suspicious message at least once since using this app.

Google has decided to introduce new security features to protect users from all unwanted messages. The current system already manages to filter over two billion potentially dangerous messages received each month.

Advanced protection against modern scams

The company announced the introduction of an advanced system of detection of scams. The focus is on messages related to job offers and deliveries.

The system uses AI directly on the phone, so it can automatically identify and filter out messages it deems suspicious. The next step is to move them to the spam folder or display warnings on the device screen.

The analysis is done locally and the content of the conversations is not sent to Google servers.

Contact verification becomes rigorous

Users will be able to identify the people who send them messages by scanning a QR code. This new feature won’t be available this year, but in 2025 for devices running Android 9 (or later).

Increased control over international messages

Another feature will automatically hide incoming messages from unknown international numbers and move them directly to the spam folder.

Protection against sensitive content

One of the most important updates is the introduction of the sensitive content warning system.

It will automatically detect and blur images containing nudity before the user sees them. In addition, when someone tries to send or forward such images, the system will display a warning about the associated risks.

The new feature is optional for adults and can be managed from Settings. It will be automatically enabled for users under 18, but will have the option to disable it. Processing is done exclusively on the device, thus preserving user privacy.

Safety of incoming links

Google Messages also introduces smart warnings for links it deems dangerous, especially those sent by unknown senders.

Users will be warned when they receive messages containing suspicious links, and they will be automatically blocked to prevent possible cyber attacks.

Currently, only users enrolled in the beta program can experiment with the new protection measures.