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Why is Android's SafetyCore so troubling?
SafetyCore is troubling because of how it arrived.
Google said the service performs content classification on your device, does not send identifiable data or content to Google servers, and only runs when an app requests it through an optionally enabled feature. That's the good part. The bad part is the rollout. A silent system component that handles sensitive-content classification is something Google should have clearly explained beforehand.
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To be fair, Apple offers a similar feature called Communication Safety on the iPhone. But it publicly explained the feature and gave users a very easy way to enable or disable it in their Screen Time settings. Apple got it right. Google didn't.
In response to this article, a Google spokesperson told ZDNET:
"By default, Google System services automatically update your device with security, bug fixes, and new features. Some updates are delivered via system services in separate Android packages. This maintains privacy, security, and data isolation following the principle of least privilege because permissions are not shared with other functionality."
Can I uninstall SafetyCore without breaking my phone?
Yes. I did, and my Pixel phone still works just fine. That said, SafetyCore is a system service, so removing it may affect Android safety features that rely on it, including Sensitive Content Warnings in Google Messages. Google recommends keeping it installed.
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Will SafetyCore come back after I uninstall it?
It might. Because SafetyCore is a Google system service, it may return through a system update or a Google Play update. If you remove it and later see it again in your system processes, that is likely why.
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What are Sensitive Content Warnings?
Sensitive Content Warnings in Google Messages uses SafetyCore's technology to work. When enabled, the safety feature can detect images that may contain nudity, blur them, and show a warning before you receive, send, or forward them.
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Here's how Google explained the warnings:
"Sensitive Content Warnings is an optional feature that blurs images that may contain nudity before viewing, and then prompts with a 'speed bump' that contains help-finding resources and options, including to view the content. When the feature is enabled, and an image that may contain nudity is about to be sent or forwarded, it also provides a speed bump to remind users of the risks of sending nude imagery and preventing accidental shares. All of this happens on-device to protect your privacy and keep end-to-end encrypted message content private to only sender and recipient. Sensitive Content Warnings doesn't allow Google access to the contents of your images, nor does Google know that nudity may have been detected. This feature is opt-in for adults, managed via Android Settings, and is opt-out for users under 18 years of age."
The TL;DR is that Google said detection and blurring happen on your device, and images, results, and warnings are not shared with Google. Adults can also enable or disable Sensitive Content Warnings in Google Messages settings at any time.
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