Changed specification so that Google image search blurs images related to 'pornography, violence, bloodshed' by default



On February 7, 2023,

Safer Internet Day , Google introduced a range of initiatives focused on security and privacy. Among them, it is clear that Google Image Search will change the specification to blur images related to pornography, violence, and bloodshed by default.

Creating a safer internet for everyone
https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/creating-a-safer-internet-for-everyone/

Google will soon default to blurring explicit image search results
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/02/google-will-soon-default-to-blurring-explicit-image-search-results/

Google will soon blur explicit images by default in search results - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/7/23589012/google-safesearch-blur-explicit-images-online-safety

On February 7th, Safer Internet Day, Google announced various online security and privacy initiatives the company is doing. Google has announced a new online safety partnership with the International Electoral System Foundation (IFES), pledging to protect high-risk individuals around the world. We also announced that we have expanded our ongoing partnership with Defending Digital Campaigns (DDC) to provide over 100,000 Titan Security Keys free of charge to high-risk individuals. In addition, we have announced that we will provide a new grant of $ 1 million (about 130 million yen) to the Impact Amplifier Africa Online Safety Fund to promote global online safety support.

Google also announced an update to its online safety tools. Google offers tools like Family Link to help parents monitor their kids' online activity and limit screen time. By using these, it is possible to enable Safe Search on a child's Google account, which allows you to exclude ``content containing explicit expressions'' displayed in Google searches from the search results. The specification regarding this safe search has been changed, and it became clear that users who do not enable safe search will blur the ``explicit expression image'' displayed in Google Image Search by default.

The actual search results are as follows, and images with explicit expressions will be blurred like the red frame part. This setting can be changed from the SafeSearch management screen, and by default this is 'Blur'. If you select 'Filter', images with explicit expressions will not be displayed in the search results, and if you select 'Off', all images will be displayed without blurring.



Google Search's content policy prohibits ``content containing explicit sexual depictions'' and ``violent or cruel content'', so it seems that images related to pornography, violence, and blood will be blurred.

Explicit images will be blurred by default for all users, and if you are old enough to manage your Google account yourself, you can log in to your account and make changes such as turning off the blur setting. Google sets the age at which accounts can be managed by themselves for each country, but media such as Ars Technica and The Verge say, ``If a user under the age of 18 is logged in to their account, the SafeSearch filter is automatically turned on. As a result, images with explicit expressions will not be displayed in search results.'

When the overseas media The Verge contacted a Google spokesperson, a comment was returned saying, ``You can change your safe search settings at any time unless your account is monitored by a parent, school, or administrator.'' is.

In addition, it is said that the specification change that blurs images of explicit expressions in Google image search by default will be 'implemented within the next few months'.

in Web Service, Posted by logu_ii