Consumer Rights Wiki

Android System SafetyCore: Difference between revisions

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{{StubNotice}}{{InfoboxProductLine
{{Incomplete|Issue 1= The incident is based mostly on speculation and (warranted) suspiciousness with Google's actions. More sources are needed or change of scope/deletion of the incident.|Issue 2= This is currently formatted as a product page, it may be a candidate to turn into an incident}}
| Title = {{PAGENAME}}
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| Release Year =2025
|ArticleType=Product
| Product Type =Software
|Category=Software,
| In Production =Yes
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|Description=
| Logo =QuestionMark.svg
|InProduction=Yes
}}Android System SafetyCore is a program developed and released by [[Google]] for the [[Android]] platform. Google claims that the software provides on-device security for any Android devices running version 9 (pie) or later.<ref>https://security.googleblog.com/2024/10/5-new-protections-on-google-messages.html</ref>  
|Logo=SafetyCore.png
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Android System SafetyCore is an app developed and released by [[Google]] for the [[Android]] platform. According to [[Google]] the software provides locally-run nudity censoring for any Android devices running version 9 (pie) or later.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=22 Oct 2024 |title=5 new protections on Google Messages to help keep you safe |url=https://security.googleblog.com/2024/10/5-new-protections-on-google-messages.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260108020643/https://security.googleblog.com/2024/10/5-new-protections-on-google-messages.html |archive-date=8 Jan 2026|access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=Google Security Blog}}</ref>  


Due to a lack of transparency and open sourcing, it has brought significant amounts of concern from consumers, especially those who work in tech security. <ref>https://www.protectstar.com/en/blog/android-system-safetycore-hidden-installation-and-what-you-should-know</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/1gpdhwz/guys_help_some_app_called_android_system/</ref><ref>https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?p=142400</ref><ref>https://forum.artixlinux.org/index.php/topic,7782.msg46658.html
==Consumer impact summary==
User Freedom: Can be uninstalled, however a lack of communication and difficulty to find the installed app should call this freedom into question.


</ref>
User Privacy: Claimed to "only scan files sent on messages app"<ref name=":0" />


==Consumer impact summary==
==Incidents==
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the conduct towards users of the product (if applicable):
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the  
* User Freedom
[[Category:Android| Arndroid category]]
* User Privacy
.
* Business Model
===Installation without informed consent (January 22, 2025)===
* Market Control}}
In January 22, 2025, Google quietly rolled out Android System SafetyCore to all Android devices. The installation of the program neither informed consumers that it was installed, nor did it request consumers to install it onto their devices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thitu |first=Naftary |date=10 Feb 2025 |title=Rogue or Safe App? Unmasking Android System SafetyCore |url=https://techweez.com/2025/02/07/hidden-guardian-or-unwanted-intruder-unmasking-android-system-safetycore/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260208111452/https://techweez.com/2025/02/07/hidden-guardian-or-unwanted-intruder-unmasking-android-system-safetycore/ |archive-date=8 Feb 2026|access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=techweez}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Android System SafetyCore |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/1iih2ll/android_system_safetycore/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250206211210/https://old.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/1iih2ll/android_system_safetycore/ |archive-date=6 Feb 2025|access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> This additionally bypassed any features consumers have enabled that blocks installations of programs without consumer approval first.


$2
Due to a lack of both transparency or open sourcing, it has brought significant amounts of concern from consumers, especially those who work in tech security. <ref>{{Cite web |date=11 Feb 2025 |title=Android System SafetyCore: Hidden Installation and What You Should Know |url=https://www.protectstar.com/en/blog/android-system-safetycore-hidden-installation-and-what-you-should-know |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222205516/https://www.protectstar.com/en/blog/android-system-safetycore-hidden-installation-and-what-you-should-know |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=ProtectStar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Guys help some app called android system safetycore installed automatically |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/1gpdhwz/guys_help_some_app_called_android_system/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250210162115/https://old.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/1gpdhwz/guys_help_some_app_called_android_system/ |archive-date=10 Feb 2025|access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=@dancytron |date=8 Feb 2025 |title=Android System SafetyCore |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/1gpdhwz/guys_help_some_app_called_android_system/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250210162115/https://old.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/1gpdhwz/guys_help_some_app_called_android_system/ |archive-date=10 Feb 2025|access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=Puppy Linux Discussion Forum}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=@Phosphate5 |date=12 Feb 2025 |title=Android System SafetyCore is being silently installed on android devices |url=https://forum.artixlinux.org/index.php/topic,7782.msg46658.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250506184115/https://forum.artixlinux.org/index.php/topic,7782.msg46658.html |archive-date=6 May 2025|access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=Artix Linux Forum}}
==Incidents==
</ref> With [[Google]] directly stating that the program scans photos that are sent on the messages app, it has set a precedent for this concern as well, since malicious actors or [[Google]] themselves could theoretically hijack this product for illicit purposes, such as setting the app to scan for more than just mature photos, or scanning files beyond just what the messages app is allowed.
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
{{Placeholder box|* [[Example incident one]] (date): Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).
* [[Example incident two]] (date):
Incidents affecting the entire product line can be found in the product line article: [[Product line article, or company article if there is no product line]]}}


=== Installation without informed consent (January 22, 2025) ===
This lack of transparency has been also cited as a concern from [[GrapheneOS]] maintainers, stating that because it is not open source, they will not be including the app inside their operating system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@GrapheneOS |date=8 Feb 2025 |title=The functionality provided by Google's new Android System SafetyCore app |url=https://x.com/GrapheneOS/status/1888280836426084502?mx=2 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251126043552/https://x.com/GrapheneOS/status/1888280836426084502?mx=2 |archive-date=26 Nov 2025|access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref>
In January 22, 2025, Google quietly released Android System SafetyCore to all Android devices. The installation of the program neither informed consumers that it was installed, nor did it request consumers to install it onto their devices. This additionally bypassed any features consumers have enabled that blocks installations of programs without consumer approval first.


==See also==
==See also==
{{Placeholder box|Link to relevant theme articles or products with similar incidents.}}


- [[Android]]
*[[Android]]
*[[Google]]


- [[Google]]
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Android]]
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