Android System SafetyCore: what it does and why you may want to remove it

[harlan4096]

When Google released the October 2024 security update for Android, it made no mention of a new app that it integrated in the update. Android System SafetyCore was suddenly installed and users did not know what it did. It is probably the secrecy around this app that is worrying many Android users currently.

Google did announce its functionality in a blog post in October 2024, but without mentioning the apps' name. In 5 new protections on Google Messages to help keep you safe, it mentioned the new "Sensitive Content Warnings give you control over seeing and sending images that may contain nudity." under point four.

Here is how this works in a nutshell according to Google:

• It is an optional feature that has two main purposes:
  • Scan images for nudity and blur them.
    
  • Warn users when they are about to send images with nudity using Google Messages.
    
• Google says the scanning happens on the device and that it has no access to the contents of images.
  
• The feature is enabled for Android users under the age of 18, but disabled for adults.
  

In other words: Google added a new app to most Android devices that is scanning images for nudity automatically. While disabled for adults, it does run on the Android devices of minors automatically.

The app has an abysmal rating of 1.4 on Google's Play Store currently and has been installed on over 1 billion devices at the time of writing.

 Many users describe it as spyware, or spyware-like and object to the automatic scanning of images. While some of those reviews are likely the result of clickbait articles, the underlying message is clear:

• Google installed a new app on user devices.
  
• The app scans images automatically to determine nudity.
  
• Google gives its word that this all happens on the local device.
  

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