Google Starts Rolling Out Sensitive Content Warnings in its Messages App

Google has started rolling out new Sensitive Content Warnings in its Messages app for Android to blur images that may contain nudity. The optional feature, which the company first announced back in October, is opt-in for adults and opt-out for Android users under 18 years.

According to a previous blog post from Google, these sensitive content warnings were supposed to start rolling out in February. However, 9to5Google just noticed the availability of the new safety feature in the app: It’s available under Settings > Protection & Safety > Manage Sensitive content warnings.

When enabled, photos with nudity in Google Messages will be blurred, and they can also be deleted before viewing. Additionally, users trying to send an image with nudity will be reminded of the risks of doing so, and they will also be asked to confirm to continue.

Google previously explained that nude photo detection only happens on-device. “Sensitive Content Warnings doesn’t allow Google access to the contents of your images, nor does Google know that nudity may have been detected,” the company previously wrote.

For supervised Android accounts, Sensitive Content Warnings can only be turned off by parents via the Google Family Link app. In the coming months, this app will also allow parents to choose who their kids can send and receive calls and texts from the Google Messages and dialer apps on Android.