You remember #Apple scanning all images on your #mobile device?
If you have an #Android #phone, a new app that doesn't appear in your menu has been automatically and silently installed (or soon will be) by #Google. It is called #AndroidSystemSafetyCore and does exactly the same - scan all images on your device as well as all incoming ones (via messaging). The new spin is that it does so "to protect your #privacy".
You can uninstall this app safely via System -> Apps.
This entry was edited (2 months ago)
Georgiana Brummell likes this.
reshared this
Gytis Repečka
in reply to jack • • •How do you know that it scans images?
Are there any traces collected, sources available or these are speculations?
Gytis Repečka
in reply to Gytis Repečka • • •5 new protections on Google Messages to help keep you safe
security.googleblog.comlostdoco
in reply to Gytis Repečka • • •AlexanderMars
in reply to lostdoco • • •I-baLL
in reply to AlexanderMars • • •Gytis Repečka
in reply to I-baLL • • •Flexi Bell
in reply to jack • • •Tom
in reply to Flexi Bell • • •@flexi same here (Google Pixel 6)
@jack
Donald Hobern
in reply to Tom • • •@thomas
I just removed it from my Pixel 6 Pro in #Australia.
Tobias Hellgren
in reply to Tom • • •@thomas @flexi Tap on the icon!
@jack
Tom
in reply to Tobias Hellgren • • •Tobias Hellgren
in reply to Tom • • •Flexi Bell
in reply to Flexi Bell • • •I can uninstall it easily.
Just not via: System -> Apps.
But simply via Settings -> Apps.
Deborah Hartmann Preuss, pcc
in reply to jack • • •Bhante Subharo
in reply to Deborah Hartmann Preuss, pcc • • •BTW: This guide explains more about it, and where to disable "Android System Intelligence":
androidauthority.com/android-s…
#Android
What is Android System Intelligence? Is it safe to remove?
Aamir Siddiqui (Android Authority)reshared this
Deborah Hartmann Preuss, pcc and Soh Kam Yung reshared this.
conor: conor edition
in reply to Bhante Subharo • • •Deborah Hartmann Preuss, pcc
in reply to conor: conor edition • • •May Likes Toronto
in reply to Deborah Hartmann Preuss, pcc • • •Deborah Hartmann Preuss, pcc
in reply to May Likes Toronto • • •Deborah Hartmann Preuss, pcc
in reply to Bhante Subharo • • •@sbb thanks - I've now re-enabled it, but disallowed some of the permissions.
Apso, by reading this I discovered "private compute services", which I've now disabled.
Al
in reply to jack • • •Its time to renew my project to de-google my phone. Its hard since I'm still in the US and most good phone are in the EU.
any recommendation on a good phone to start with?
Claus Cramon Houmann reshared this.
jack
in reply to Al • • •@mral It seems that #Murena and thus #Fairphone is available in the USA:
murena.com/america/products/sm…
I can't say that much about Murena and their (degoogled) OS, but I've been a happy Fairphone user for almost a decade now (both #degoogled and stock).
#CalyxOS is a good OS choice, check out their supported devices:
calyxos.org/docs/guide/device-…
#GrapheneOS looks pretty good, too - but it only runs on google's pixel (which admittedly is one of the most open phones around).
grapheneos.org/
GrapheneOS: the private and secure mobile OS
GrapheneOSreshared this
Megan and Lord Caramac the Clueless, KSC reshared this.
carlwheezerr
in reply to jack • • •the esoteric programmer
in reply to Al • • •Sarah W
in reply to jack • • •Sarah W reshared this.
Dial M For Madeye 🏴 🇮🇪
in reply to Sarah W • • •@Sarahw
I just went straight to "Settings" > "Apps" scrolled down and found it. It even stated "notifications disabled" and "no permissions required".
Sleekit.
Binned.
Sarah W
in reply to Dial M For Madeye 🏴 🇮🇪 • • •It's very sneaky. I wouldn't have known about it if it wasn't for people like Jack posting on Mastodon.
Dial M For Madeye 🏴 🇮🇪
in reply to Sarah W • • •Dial M For Madeye 🏴 🇮🇪
in reply to jack • • •Justin Macleod
in reply to jack • • •Paul Schoonhoven 🍉 🍋
in reply to jack • • •10xslacker
in reply to jack • • •I'm not a big Google fan but this doesn't look the same. It is a feature released in October to (e.g.) mask unsolicited dick pics in RCS chat., disabled by default. Obligatory your threat model != my threat model.
security.googleblog.com/2024/1…
"...doesn’t allow Google access to the contents of your images, nor does Google know that nudity may have been detected"
5 new protections on Google Messages to help keep you safe
Google Online Security Blogm04
in reply to jack • • •> 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
Lars Marowsky-Brée 😷
in reply to m04 • • •skribe
in reply to Lars Marowsky-Brée 😷 • •m04
in reply to skribe • • •although, i do use it through beeper, so i barely ever open the actual messages app - i find that makes the experience a lot nicer
skribe likes this.
Lars Marowsky-Brée 😷
in reply to m04 • • •Jan Penfrat
in reply to jack • • •BohwaZ reshared this.
DDRitter 🏳️🌈🎗️🇵🇸
in reply to Jan Penfrat • • •Jan Penfrat
in reply to DDRitter 🏳️🌈🎗️🇵🇸 • • •BohwaZ
in reply to Jan Penfrat • • •@ilumium I decompiled the apk to have a quick look and the app does have internet access.
It includes a binary library called "libtartarus" which seems to be an AI (references to TensorFlow).
It does also include telemetry (OpenCensus), so *some* data is transmitted to Google. There is also some logging to Google in the code, but can't say if it's enabled.
The code also does link the app with your Google Account…
I'm not an Android specialist so I can't tell what is sent exactly.
reshared this
BohwaZ and 🤸♀️ Ada ⅗ 🤼♀️ reshared this.
Zimmie
in reply to Jan Penfrat • • •@ilumium Apple’s proposal was two parts:
1. Scan images for CSAM as they are encrypted for upload to iCloud. If CSAM is detected, also send Apple a fragment of the encryption key.
At the time, photos at rest in iCloud (and others) were clear, and the NSA and various companies’ support departments had been caught saving and distributing nudes non-consensually. This plan intrinsically involved end-to-end encryption, so it was addressing a real privacy risk. If you didn’t send images to iCloud, the CSAM scanning would never run. This was scrapped because tech media spread ridiculous misinformation about it, creating a PR disaster.
2. Scan images in incoming messages in the Messages application on minors’ phones for nudity. If detected, obscure the image. If the minor taps to unobscure the image, notify the associated parent account.
The parent notification was dropped, and the rest of the feature was implemented in iOS 17, in late 2023. An
... show more@ilumium Apple’s proposal was two parts:
1. Scan images for CSAM as they are encrypted for upload to iCloud. If CSAM is detected, also send Apple a fragment of the encryption key.
At the time, photos at rest in iCloud (and others) were clear, and the NSA and various companies’ support departments had been caught saving and distributing nudes non-consensually. This plan intrinsically involved end-to-end encryption, so it was addressing a real privacy risk. If you didn’t send images to iCloud, the CSAM scanning would never run. This was scrapped because tech media spread ridiculous misinformation about it, creating a PR disaster.
2. Scan images in incoming messages in the Messages application on minors’ phones for nudity. If detected, obscure the image. If the minor taps to unobscure the image, notify the associated parent account.
The parent notification was dropped, and the rest of the feature was implemented in iOS 17, in late 2023. Any account can enable it, and the service is available to other messaging applications (so WhatsApp or a Mastodon client could be written to use it if the user has enabled it). This is exactly what Google has implemented.
support.apple.com/en-us/105071
About Sensitive Content Warning on Apple devices - Apple Support
Apple SupportAdam’s Apfel
in reply to jack • • •JW Prince of CPH, Radicalized
in reply to jack • • •lebout2canap ⏚
Unknown parent • • •Tobias Hellgren
in reply to jack • • •Blitzen 🇺🇦
in reply to jack • • •You remember Apple succumbing to public pressure and quietly never implementing it in the first place?
Edit: I’m gonna make a big addendum to this comment. While Apple *did* scrap plans for CSAM detection due to public pressure, they did implement an on-device mechanism for blurring “sensitive content.” A feature much like the one on Android in the original post here, although I’ve yet to find much transparency on the Android apps’ workings. This on-device functionality works like face detection, so if you’re okay with that there’s little reason to be alarmed.
jack
in reply to Blitzen 🇺🇦 • • •Cat Herder 💔 🗽 🇺🇲
in reply to jack • • •I can't find it on my phone to get rid of it.
Ronald Klip
in reply to Cat Herder 💔 🗽 🇺🇲 • • •Android System SafetyCore - Apps on Google Play
play.google.comParade du Grotesque 💀
in reply to Cat Herder 💔 🗽 🇺🇲 • • •@CatHerder @blitzen
Try searching in Apps the exact wording is : "Android System SafetyCore" ) spaces and upper case letters are important.
Lord Caramac the Clueless, KSC reshared this.
Bernd Paysan R.I.P Natenom 🕯️
in reply to Parade du Grotesque 💀 • • •@ParadeGrotesque @CatHerder @blitzen „Android“ is enough, the list of apps starting with „Android“ isn't that long.
It's there and it's freaking me out: Google, pushing something I didn't ask for, and not even telling me is no way to go. Next phone will be a Huawei one without Android!
Full Metal Archaeopteryx
in reply to Cat Herder 💔 🗽 🇺🇲 • • •@CatHerder
Try using search
On my Note 9 it didn't show on my apps list in Settings until I searched for it
@jack @blitzen
Cat Herder 💔 🗽 🇺🇲
in reply to Full Metal Archaeopteryx • • •I did search the whole phone. Thanks.
Anne Ominous
in reply to Cat Herder 💔 🗽 🇺🇲 • • •@CatHerder @DelilahTech @blitzen
for anyone, not just people i am replying to:
what i did was go to the Google Play store and search for Android SafetyCore
when it found the app in the store, i was given the "uninstall' option
that was how i located and removed it - search did not help -
i'm sure there are other ways! but this was easiest for me and maybe others too
Cat Herder 💔 🗽 🇺🇲
in reply to Anne Ominous • • •Thank you! I'll try that.
Anne Ominous
in reply to Cat Herder 💔 🗽 🇺🇲 • • •@CatHerder
youre welcome!
Court Cantrell will not comply
in reply to Anne Ominous • • •Anne Ominous
in reply to Court Cantrell will not comply • • •@courtcan @CatHerder @DelilahTech @blitzen
this happened to my friend - no sign of it in the search or in the app store, as of about 3pm CST today. (i did my search and removal several hours ago..)
i have no clue what's up with this.
anyway, i hope people are able to find it and remove it
Cat Herder 💔 🗽 🇺🇲
in reply to Anne Ominous • • •@rustoleumlove @DelilahTech @blitzen
Yay! It's gone! Thanks!
Elias Aarnio
in reply to jack • • •@blitzen
Or the explanation is simply that Google has removed word don't from their old slogan "Don't be evil"
No smiley needed.
Token Sane Person
in reply to jack • • •This is misinformation. If you read what Google actually wrote, it only notifies the user of nudity. Google specifically say that it doesn't notify them.
Of course Google might be lying, but there is no evidence here of any new risk.
BohwaZ reshared this.
priryo
in reply to jack • • •@welshpixie
Steffo
in reply to jack • • •Welcome to my FUD list.
To cite Google (via the page you linked):
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. Sensitive Content Warnings will be rolling out to Android 9+ devices including Android Go devices with Google Messages in the coming months.
freechelmi
in reply to jack • • •ISibboI
in reply to jack • • •Dial M For Madeye 🏴 🇮🇪
Unknown parent • • •@essjayjay @HarriettMB @Sarahw
Yes. She and Ed Balls her husband were at George Osborne's wedding a couple of years ago.
#SingleTransferableParty
#RedToryBlueTory
#BrexshitaniaBusinessAsUsual
Drew
in reply to jack • • •SD Maid 2/SE - System Cleaner - Apps on Google Play
play.google.comEstarriol, lucozade dragon
in reply to Dial M For Madeye 🏴 🇮🇪 • • •you mean evette cooper, architect of universal credit and all the ideas IDS followed up on at the DWP....
Erwan 🚄
in reply to jack • • •Another crap that google installs without authorisation.
Jojonintendo
in reply to jack • • •Acesabe
in reply to jack • • •@catsalad
Corse_Pia
in reply to jack • • •Diana Barbosa 🇺🇦🇵🇸
in reply to jack • • •Martin Be
in reply to jack • • •privacy_guru
in reply to jack • • •To those who are curious about the app and can't find the proper documentation I found this video explainer. youtube.com/watch?v=1rdlTveD8F…
I understand some people may feel the pic blurring is useful for them but in the privacy community Google does not have a good rep & is known for sneaking new features into Android to get more of your private info. It may not seem bad now but new capabilities could be added later without warning.
- YouTube
www.youtube.comMutoKenji
in reply to jack • • •privacy_guru
in reply to jack • • •Danieλ ΦØΘ_☮️
in reply to jack • • •Mikael Winterkvist 🎏
in reply to jack • • •NancyRant
in reply to jack • • •@jack
You are a gentleman & a scholar for disseminating the dark arts of New Nerd Order as set forth in its foundation text 'Malware Malefecarum'.
THANK YOU!
Happily, Google's CovertApps boobytrap is no match for my obsolete Android, which doesn't support any of this Cambridge Five nonsense.
Knackered tech gazumps corporate cannibal, HUZZAH!
Coffee (Team CW)
in reply to jack • • •Someone linked and screenshotted this post, so now there are two disjoint sets of replies.
Just leaving the link here in case anybody wants to get at the other set of replies:
partyon.xyz/@nullagent/1139660…
nullagent
2025-02-08 03:16:06
d@nny mc²
Unknown parent • • •imdat celeste 🇪🇺🇺🇦🇨🇦 [witchzard]
Unknown parent • • •d@nny mc²
Unknown parent • • •d@nny mc²
Unknown parent • • •d@nny mc²
Unknown parent • • •imdat celeste 🇪🇺🇺🇦🇨🇦 [witchzard]
Unknown parent • • •d@nny mc²
Unknown parent • • •GrapheneOS
in reply to jack • • •See grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/….
GrapheneOS
2025-02-08 17:17:03
imdat celeste 🇪🇺🇺🇦🇨🇦 [witchzard]
Unknown parent • • •d@nny mc²
Unknown parent • • •d@nny mc²
Unknown parent • • •@agatha @ics also here grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/…
GrapheneOS
2025-02-08 17:17:03
Ivy [_gay] Mae reshared this.
d@nny mc²
in reply to d@nny mc² • • •Dr0id
in reply to jack • • •grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/…
GrapheneOS
2025-02-08 17:17:03
gunstick
in reply to jack • • •what this does is: local powered KI detector for spam and nudity.
grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/…
GrapheneOS
2025-02-08 17:17:09
Ivy [_gay] Mae
in reply to d@nny mc² • • •Maxi 10x 💉
in reply to jack • • •Otto
in reply to jack • • •That is actually a rather poor description of what it does. Basically, the app is one that prevents dick pics.
It scans incoming images, and if it thinks they're nudes, then it shows a content warning message along with the blurred image. Additionally, it scans outgoing images and if it thinks they're nudes, it gives you the option to not send them.
However, all this scanning is done entirely on your own device, it doesn't send anything anywhere.
hambier
in reply to jack • • •[citation needed]
Do you mind linking to a source for these allegations? I know that Google is (in part) horrible when it comes to privacy, so I'm not saying it can't be, but I find this post a bit light on details or evidence.
Der Heinz
in reply to jack • • •microG Project
microg.orgHadewych
in reply to jack • • •David Bridger
in reply to jack • • •Reboot Kid
in reply to jack • • •I'm finding folks saying this is happening, but not with any breakdown or evidence of the process.
Is there a geekier write-up, given that the Google writeup is decidedly slanted?
FoolishOwl
in reply to jack • • •colin_brosseau
in reply to jack • • •The second thing is Netguard (that I set to block *everythnig*).
Then I install my apps from Fdroid.
Buchralle
in reply to jack • • •optimista 🏴☠️🏳️🌈
in reply to jack • • •I went to Settings > Apps > ⋮ Show system apps and removed them.
I just hope they don't install themselves again.
Benjamin Sonntag-King
in reply to jack • • •Because neither the page on Playstore nor your link explains what it does...
I just uninstalled it but I'd like to know more
Guillaume ☭
in reply to jack • • •Emilion
in reply to jack • • •You guys uninstall your phone apps based on a post, without any evidence, on social media? 😄
Mateusz 🏳️🌈
in reply to jack • • •jack
in reply to Mateusz 🏳️🌈 • • •@aemstuz No, client-side scanning is not OK.
tuta.com/blog/eu-client-side-s…
"There is no prosecution at any cost." | Tuta
TutaMateusz 🏳️🌈
in reply to jack • • •Zoidberg For President
in reply to jack • • •jack
in reply to Zoidberg For President • • •Jason "JK" Keirstead
in reply to jack • • •I-baLL
in reply to jack • • •while the incorrect explanation of what the app does plus the framing of the post raises my skepticism by quite a bit, I'm surprised that you didn't provide a Google Play link to the app which will give most people an easily accessible uninstall button.
Anyways, here's the app on the Google Play store if somebody wants to see if the app is installed on their device and if they want to uninstall it:
play.google.com/store/apps/det…
Android System SafetyCore - Apps on Google Play
play.google.comEric Wayne
in reply to jack • • •Linebyline
in reply to jack • • •LOL at the sheeple still using stock Android, I use LineageOS and--WTF??
Kidding, of course, but yeah, can confirm that the app installs itself on LineageOS too, at least when you have the Google apps/play store installed. A decision I'm coming to regret.
Uninstalled. it.Looking forward to having to keep checking every week in perpetuity to see if it's reinstalled itself.
Skoobie
in reply to jack • • •flutttr
in reply to jack • • •DHeadshot's Alt
in reply to jack • • •JollyOrc
in reply to jack • • •where did you get this information? The only info I could find was this here: androidauthority.com/google-me…
Where the explanation isn't about privacy really..
Here's how Google is letting Messages warn you about nudes - Android Authority
Mishaal Rahman (Android Authority)Techokami
in reply to jack • • •micha
in reply to jack • • •@isotopp store link is
play.google.com/store/apps/det…
Won't turn up in search in the phone because of default settings.
Hope that helps
Android System SafetyCore - Apps on Google Play
play.google.comWooShell
in reply to jack • • •DO NOT uninstall this app, unless you want to lose signature verification of APKs and open yourself to malicious app sideloading.
The SystemSafetyCore has NOTHING to do with CSAM scanning or anything similar to Apple's photo verification proposal. The proposed image scanning (on-device only) is being added to the Google Messages app itself, not to any system service apps.
Just a heads up - do not uninstall apps just because someone on the internet told you so.
b3lt3r
in reply to jack • • •the stated purpose (following the links) seems reasonable enough, but:
1. unacceptable to install silently
2. Google is not trustworthy enough for me to believe that usage would not change in future.
Johan Paul
in reply to jack • • •The page you refer to does not detail what the APK does.
All Google is saying is "Android System SafetyCore (com.google.android.safetycore) is an Android system component that provides privacy-preserving on-device user protection infrastructure for app"
What are your sources to what this APK actually does?
MeaTLoTioN
in reply to jack • • •jack
in reply to MeaTLoTioN • • •Rik Viergever
in reply to jack • • •NoNoB 🏃♂️🚴
in reply to jack • • •Na ja, naiv halt 😅
Konnte ich unter "Alle Apps" finden und deinstallieren 👍
craige
in reply to jack • • •Eric Wayne
in reply to jack • • •DB Schwein
in reply to jack • • •Ugh. Their "reason" for invading your privacy:
*and it says it was supposed to be opt-in, but there it was on my phone so...
London Eastfield 🇵🇸
in reply to jack • • •Analogico
in reply to jack • • •#Apple #mobile #Android #phone #Google #AndroidSystemSafetyCore #privacy
Found on my Samsung, but I'd like to know more before uninstalling.
Can anybody explain better, please?