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ZDNET's key takeaways
SafetyCore is a Google system service for Android 9 and later.
It powers Sensitive Content Warnings in Google Messages.
It only runs when an app requests it through an opt-in feature.
Last year, Google rolled out a system service to Android phones and tablets called Android System SafetyCore. It came with no new icon on the home screen, no warning, and no "Do you want this?" screen. It just appeared one night, running in the background.
Google describes SafetyCore as an "Android system component that provides common infrastructure that apps can use to protect users from unwanted content." That vague description left many people, including me, confused. So, what's it look like in practice?
Sensitive Content Warnings in Google Messages. Powered by SafetyCore, Google said that, when enabled, Messages can detect and blur images in your chats that may contain nudity, then show a warning before you view or even share them yourself. Google stressed that it processes all warnings on your device, and that your warnings and images are "not shared with Google."
SafetyCore isn't limited to nudity detection. Google said it provides "privacy-preserving, on-device support" for Android safety features, and could be used to help warn users about a range of "unwanted content," such as spam, scams, and malware.
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