Intercepting creeps Google Messages can now blur unwanted nudes, remind people not to send them Google's Sensitive Content Warnings can keep Messages rated PG. Ryan Whitwam – Apr 22, 2025 11:51 am | 31 SafetyCore runs on-device AI to detect nudes. Credit: Ryan Whitwam SafetyCore runs on-device AI to detect nudes. Credit: Ryan Whitwam Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Google announced last year that it would deploy safety tools in Google Messages to help users avoid unwanted nudes by automatically blurring the content. Now, that feature is finally beginning to roll out. Spicy image-blurring may be enabled by default on some devices, but others will need to turn it on manually. If you don't see the option yet, don't fret. Sensitive Content Warnings will arrive on most of the world's Android phones soon enough. If you're an adult using an unrestricted phone, Sensitive Content Warnings will be disabled by default. For teenagers using unsupervised phones, the feature is enabled but can be disabled in the Messages settings. On supervised kids' phones, the feature is enabled and cannot be disabled on-device. Only the Family Link administrator can do that. For everyone else, the settings are available in the Messages app settings under Protection and Safety. To make the feature sufficiently private, all the detection happens on the device. As a result, there was some consternation among Android users when the necessary components began rolling out over the last few months. For people who carefully control the software installed on their mobile devices, the sudden appearance of a package called SafetyCore was an affront to the sanctity of their phones. While you can remove the app (it's listed under "Android System SafetyCore"), it doesn't take up much space and won't be active unless you enable Sensitive Content Warnings. Now, at least, SafetyCore is doing something, according to 9to5Google. SafetyCore allows your phone to do basic AI image classification so it can identify images that may contain nudity. If your phone spots such an image arriving in your inbox, it will apply a blur filter and present a "speed bump" that lets you decide if you want to see said image. You can also choose to block the number that sent it. Sensitive Content Warnings also remind users who are sending nudes that they may want to rethink that. Like the incoming image speed bump, you can dismiss this one and continue sending unimpeded. It's a lot like Apple's identically named Sensitive Content Warning. Sensitive Content Warnings are coming to all Android devices with Google apps running version 9 or higher, but it's starting with those in the Google Messages beta. Unlike many features, this one is even available to the oft-forgotten Android Go lineup. However, your phone needs to have at least 2GB of RAM, which virtually every working Android phone should have. Content blurring and speed bumps will only appear in the Google Messages app, so you may need to switch to that app on certain phones. If you don't want to wait for the wide rollout, you can join the Messages beta in the Play Store to hurry the process along. Ryan Whitwam Senior Technology Reporter Ryan Whitwam Senior Technology Reporter Ryan Whitwam is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering the ways Google, AI, and mobile technology continue to change the world. Over his 20-year career, he's written for Android Police, ExtremeTech, Wirecutter, NY Times, and more. He has reviewed more phones than most people will ever own. You can follow him on Bluesky, where you will see photos of his dozens of mechanical keyboards. 31 Comments