Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
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ZDNET's key takeaways
SafetyCore installed silently on Android 9+ device via system updates.
It provides on-device ML models for classifying nudity, spam, and malware.
SafetyCore only activates when an app requests it.
Late last year, Google pushed a system update for Android 9 and later that quietly added a service called Android System SafetyCore. Most of the update addressed routine security fixes, but SafetyCore was new. In Google's developer notes, it was described as an "Android system component that provides privacy-preserving on-device user protection infrastructure for apps."
That vague description left many confused.
Also: Your Android phone's most powerful security feature is off by default and hidden - turn it on now
Soon after, Google announced a new Messages feature called Sensitive Content Warnings. Without directly naming SafetyCore, Google explained that the optional setting can blur photos that may contain nudity and display a warning before you view or share them.
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