Google Messages is trying to tackle today’s most annoying messaging spam

Google Messages is trying to ban job search and package delivery spam texts from your inbox, and is also adding a content warning to blur out images that may contain nudity.

The “Sensitive Content Warning” feature is optional. When enabled, it shows users a “speed threshold” with “help finding resources and options” before they can view an image that has nudity detected when scanned on the device. When users try to share a picture containing nudity, the app warns them about the risks.

Because all scanning is done on-device, Google says the content of your images will neither be viewed nor sent anywhere, and it won't break the end-to-end encryption available with RCS. Apple's Messages app added similar protections starting with iOS 17 with Communication Safety, following more controversial plans for advanced scanning and alerts. Sensitive content warnings are enabled by default for users under 18. They will roll out in the “coming months” to devices running Android 9 and above with more than 2GB of RAM.

An update for beta users will feature an improved fraud detection system designed to better detect and weed out fraudulent messages that often offer fake job offers or claim a delivery is on hold in order to get your personal information.

Google Messages already moves suspected spam messages to the Spam folder or shows you a warning and says it uses “on-device machine learning models” to evaluate the message. This means Google won't be able to see your conversations unless you report something.

Not today, fake USPS.
Screenshot: The Verge

I think Google Messages already does a good job of filtering out spam, but I've found that suspicious texts can sometimes fall through the cracks. Improved job search and package delivery fraud protection is now rolling out to Google Messages beta users with anti-spam protection enabled—and I may just need to sign up for the beta to try it out.

Additionally, Google Messages is working on the ability to automatically hide messages from unknown international numbers, along with alerts that will appear when users receive a message with a potentially dangerous link.

Next year, Google also plans to add a “Contact Verification” feature to Android that will let you verify your contact’s identity using a public key. This should be similar to the verification system Apple announced for iMessage a few years ago.

Leave a Comment

url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url