Proton MailOct 19, 2023

We thought Google hit rock bottom with #privacy.

Its new beta feature on Google Files for #Android called “Smart Search" is the trap door.

This creepy new feature on by default & scans every file on your phone. Why is this bad? Because it could potentially ruin your life. (1/3)

Show threadProton MailOct 19, 2023

Here is one man’s nightmare: https://nytimes.com/2022/08/21/technology/google-surveillance-toddler-photo.html – don’t let that be you. Turn this feature off if you opted into the beta for Google Files today.

Thanks to BasicCatBR on Twitter for alerting us to this new feature so we could let our community know. (3/3)

Here's how to turn it off:

A Dad Took Photos of His Naked Toddler for the Doctor. Google Flagged Him as a Criminal.

Google has an automated tool to detect abusive images of children. But the system can get it wrong, and the consequences are serious.

The New York Times
Show threadPhoto Ewen 📷Oct 19, 2023

@protonmail

Didn't even know the app was on my phone in the first place. Came out of nowhere. Never opened it myself before.

Show threadOpticalNail 🇵🇸
@ewen @protonmail They're talking about the default file manager, right? Or is there an android file manager and also a separate google files app?
Oct 20, 2023 at 9:44amWeb
Show threadPhoto Ewen 📷Oct 20, 2023

@arh

I found a new app in the list, called "Files".

Show threadOpticalNail 🇵🇸Oct 20, 2023
@ewen Yeah.. Google moment.
At some point I switched the region on my phone and suddenly had two apps installed, apps which I've never had before (but they were listed as "suggestions" when I got the phone I believe, theoretically not installed).
I believe that comes from the phone manufacturer rather than from google, but it's the same thing.