- Google Beta messages finally add sensitive content warnings for some
- Live location has also been tackled by the code in the application
- There is no word on when the features will be deployed to everyone
Google Messages seems to be set to receive some new tools to make the service more useful and safer to use. And we are delighted to try both once they have been deployed.
The first is that Google appears defined to add the sharing of the live location to its application. It is according to the recent detangling of the APK of Android Authority.
You can currently share your location with another person via Google Maps, but it sends the information as a Google Maps static pin. If you move, you will have to send your location again, which can make meetings while you have released and about a challenge.
However, this seems ready to change, because in the last beta code, a single chain referring to “live_location_sharing_shortcut” was discovered.
For the moment, the functionality is not live, but the chain suggests that Google is probably experiencing the sharing of the location live behind the scenes and could prepare to publish the functionality in a future beta version.
As always, there is a chance that Google will never publish the live sharing of the location, but we hope it is the case – and as soon as possible, given how useful it can be.
Sensitive incoming content warnings
The other update is announced in February but finally seems to be live for a few via the latest BETA messages: new warnings of sensitive content (via 9to5google).
They will appear if a user of Google messages sends or receives naked images (if they have the activated setting), although for adults, it is deactivated by default. Meanwhile, accounts held by people under the age of 18 will have the functionality activated by default.
Supervised accounts cannot deactivate the warnings themselves (although parents can control the parameter via the Family Link application), while non-supervised adolescents (users aged 13 to 17) can deactivate warnings in their Google account settings if they wish.
To change your settings, you will want to open Google messages on your Android device, press your profile photo, then press the messages. Scroll down to find protection and security, then manage sensitive content warnings so that you can then switch the warnings in the activated or deactivated Google messages.
Google says that these warnings are managed by the AI available (so the functionality “does not send identifiable data or any of the content or classified results to Google servers”).
If the Android SafetyCore system behind the functionality thinks that the image can contain nudity, a few things happen.
First of all, if the sender has the functionality, it will be notified of the risks of sending naked images before being asked if they actually wish to send it. Similar warnings and confirmations will appear if you try to share a bare image with another person.
The receiver will then be (if they have content warnings) See a blurred image, warn how naked images can be harmful, have the possibility of deleting the image before seeing it, the possibility of blocking the number that sent the image and the option of visualizing the image if they wish.
With the functionality that finally begins to appear, it should not be long before we can no longer count on these content warnings powered by AI to help us stay safe online.
