Mastodawn

jpdd Feb 9, 2025

You remember #Apple scanning all images on your #mobile device?

If you have an #Android #phone, a new app that doesn't appear in your menu has been automatically and silently installed (or soon will be) by #Google. It is called #AndroidSystemSafetyCore and does exactly the same - scan all images on your device as well as all incoming ones (via messaging). The new spin is that it does so "to protect your #privacy".

You can uninstall this app safely via System -> Apps.

https://developers.google.com/android/binary_transparency/google1p/overview

Google System APK Transparency | Android Binary Transparency | Google for Developers

Google for Developers

Blitzen 🇺🇦Feb 5, 2025

@jack You remember Apple succumbing to public pressure and quietly never implementing it in the first place?

Edit: I’m gonna make a big addendum to this comment. While Apple *did* scrap plans for CSAM detection due to public pressure, they did implement an on-device mechanism for blurring “sensitive content.” A feature much like the one on Android in the original post here, although I’ve yet to find much transparency on the Android apps’ workings. This on-device functionality works like face detection, so if you’re okay with that there’s little reason to be alarmed.

jack Feb 5, 2025

@blitzen That's probably why google is so sneaky about it.

Elias Aarnio Feb 8, 2025

Or the explanation is simply that Google has removed word don't from their old slogan "Don't be evil"

No smiley needed.

@jack Its time to renew my project to de-google my phone. Its hard since I'm still in the US and most good phone are in the EU.

any recommendation on a good phone to start with?

jack Feb 6, 2025

@mral It seems that #Murena and thus #Fairphone is available in the USA:

https://murena.com/america/products/smartphones/?wcpbc-manual-country=US

I can't say that much about Murena and their (degoogled) OS, but I've been a happy Fairphone user for almost a decade now (both #degoogled and stock).

#CalyxOS is a good OS choice, check out their supported devices:

https://calyxos.org/docs/guide/device-support

#GrapheneOS looks pretty good, too - but it only runs on google's pixel (which admittedly is one of the most open phones around).

https://grapheneos.org/

Murena Smartphones – Murena – deGoogled phones and services

@jack thanks, that give me a good place to start.

schnittchen 🏳️‍🌈 🔜 EasterHegg, GPN Feb 6, 2025

@jack @mral Stock Fairphone has that App installed.

EmpathicQubit Feb 6, 2025

@schnittchen
I'm using LineageOS microg on my FP4 and I don't see that app
@jack @mral

jack Feb 6, 2025

@empathicqubit @schnittchen @mral Stock android will definitely install it. Probably most/all OEM androids, too.

EmpathicQubit Feb 7, 2025

@jack
If it is part of Google's "vision" for Android, they will require it for certification.
@schnittchen @mral

Andreas Feb 8, 2025

Same setup for me (FP4 + LOS22) and here it's installed:
Version 1.0.718345453
com.google.android.safetycore

j@mastodon Feb 8, 2025

@ePD5qRxX @empathicqubit

Do you have Google Services Framework installed? Or Google Play?

Andreas Feb 8, 2025

I guess framework (or whatever the content of MindTheGApps is) 🤷‍♂️

https://gitlab.com/MindTheGapps

MindTheGapps · GitLab

Gapps

GitLab

EmpathicQubit Feb 8, 2025

@ePD5qRxX
To me the entire point of using microg is that you can use other apps without installing gapps. I mainly use F-Droid apps, and Aurora Store for Play apps.
@jcast

@empathicqubit
Also running lineage with Gapps on a FP4 as well and don't see it either

EDIT: never mind, I take that back. You can't search for it anywhere but it is in All Apps settings

@schnittchen @jack @mral

Cassandrich Feb 8, 2025

@schnittchen @jack @mral LMAO Fairphone is such a scam....

Jill ☁️Feb 8, 2025

@dalias how so?

@schnittchen @jack @mral

Julian Feb 8, 2025

@dalias @schnittchen @jack @mral it's a tradeoff, without being certified by Google and following their rules they would reach way less people and for the more privacy focused people they put almost zero rocks in the way of unlocking your phone and installing a custom ROM 🤷

crabby Feb 6, 2025

+1 for graphene, it's all you need and more.
You can even buy pixels where it is preinstalled, if you have some cash and don't feel like hacking yourself.

@[email protected] @[email protected] I use a Pixel 6a with the latest version of GrapheneOS and can confirm that Android System Safety Core app does not exists in my system.

Sven222 Feb 8, 2025

@mral @jack e/OS/ on Fairphone works perfectly. IN EU you can buy directly flashed phones, but the flashing is very easy and documented well.

carlwheezerr Feb 12, 2025

@jack @mral I bought my #Fairphone 4 from Murena; paired with #LineageOS , it's been a lovely experience so far!

Health Is Wealth Feb 7, 2025

@mral @jack If you can afford one I highly recommend a Google Pixel phone & to flash it with #GrapheneOS (for any other Android phone, #lineageos as an alternative suggestion). If you are not familiar with GOS then watching 'Side of Burritos' on YT is a great starting place. The GOS web installer is so easy to follow. 'Rob Braxman' is another YT account I'd highly recommend following. Privacy & Security are two different things of course so everyone's threat models are different. All the best 👍

tessarakt Feb 8, 2025

@mral @jack I heard Pixel with GrapheneOS is a good combination security-wise.

Brokar Feb 8, 2025

Ironically Google Pixel phones are best suited to run GrapheneOS.

https://grapheneos.org

GrapheneOS: the private and secure mobile OS

GrapheneOS is a security and privacy focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility.

GrapheneOS

freechelmi Feb 8, 2025

@mral @jack what is your current phone ! Does eOS supports it ?

Cassandrich Feb 8, 2025

@mral @jack If you want high-end, one of the premium models supported by GrapheneOS. If you're happy with anything decent that will run LineageOS or similar, Motorola is my go-to. Even stock, it's not heavily malware-infested, and they're super cheap. Mine I got for $125 3+ years ago is still very usable. Just check the specific model with compat list before buying.

econads Feb 8, 2025

@dalias @mral @jack
Their schtick is repairable/replaceable parts and ethically sourced materials, as far as I know they're still the only phone where you can replace parts yourself.

Lineage isn't the main point of it, it's just there's an overlap between people who value repairable and people who value a lack of Google.

Andromxda 🇺🇦🇵🇸🇹🇼Feb 8, 2025

@mral GrapheneOS is the best choice for privacy and security.

GrapheneOS: the private and secure mobile OS

GrapheneOS is a security and privacy focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility.

GrapheneOS

𝔸𝕟𝕔𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕊𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕤 🔉Feb 8, 2025

Good recommendations here from US academic @cyberlyra :
https://www.optoutproject.net/secure-phone/#mcetoc_1ii2292je1i5

She advocates Sailfish OS on a Sony Xperia from eBay

Day Twenty: Fix your Phone - The Opt Out Project

You are walking around everyday with a massive tracking device that is hemmorhaging data all over the place, in your…

econads Feb 8, 2025

@mral @jack
You don't need to buy a new phone to degoogle, if you've a model which has a lineage ROM available. You can check if yours fits here: https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/

Devices | LineageOS Wiki

Zeem Feb 11, 2025

@mral @jack Have another +1 for /e/OS on Fairphone 4, really good Android experience but on a phone that's both super repairable and highly privacy-oriented. And of course, as little Google as you like.

@jack No, I can't.

jack Feb 6, 2025

@flexi What android are you running? On stock, the uninstall option is there...

@jack What's "on stock" ?

jack Feb 6, 2025

@flexi The vanilla standard android version by google. Pixel comes with it as well as Fairphone. Some others, like Asus or Motorola, too IIRC.

https://www.androidauthority.com/what-is-stock-android-845627/

What is stock Android? Everything you need to know about the core OS

What is stock Android exactly? If you're looking to learn as much as you can about stock Android, this is where you need to be!

Android Authority

@jack Motorola here. Do I need to be root or something?

jack Feb 6, 2025

@flexi If you're root you can uninstall everything.

AlexanderMars Feb 8, 2025

@flexi @jack you don't need to root, #shizuku plus https://f-droid.org/packages/org.samo_lego.canta/

Takes 5 minutes to set up after downloading relevant apps. Delete anything tagged "recommended" for a start.

Canta | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository

Uninstall any(*) app without root!

@jack I uninstalled some stuff via usb developer mode... Like that?

jack Feb 6, 2025

@flexi That should always work, yes.

Correction:
I can uninstall it easily.
Just not via: System -> Apps.
But simply via Settings -> Apps.

Mensch Antimeier Feb 8, 2025

@flexi
I couldn't deinstall either via settings. But I could via play store!

Tomi the Slav and 1024 others Feb 6, 2025

@jack Thanks, uninstalled.

Goblin Feb 6, 2025

@jack Ich hab so kein Bock mehr auf den Google Quatsch 🙈

Gytis Repečka Feb 6, 2025

@jack How do you know that it scans images?

Are there any traces collected, sources available or these are speculations?

Gytis Repečka Feb 6, 2025

@jack Sorry, it is rather well explained in Google documentation linked

blobcatfingerguns

5 new protections on Google Messages to help keep you safe

Posted by Jan Jedrzejowicz, Director of Product, Android and Business Communications; Alberto Pastor Nieto, Sr. Product Manager Google Messa...

Google Online Security Blog

Volodymyr Feb 8, 2025

@gytisrepecka Google: "no one can't scam you or stole your data, except us"

@jack

lostdoco Feb 8, 2025

@gytisrepecka @jack thanks for posting this - it seems like this is an opt-in feature for adults and remains entirely on device.

AlexanderMars Feb 8, 2025

@lostdoco @gytisrepecka @jack sure it is, totally benign right, besides you've got nothing hide right?

I-baLL Feb 9, 2025

@AlexanderMars @lostdoco @gytisrepecka @jack kinda sounds like you didn't read it. Nothing to hide from yourself? If it's on the device only then what are you referring to?

Gytis Repečka Feb 9, 2025

@i_ball @AlexanderMars @lostdoco @jack Even for offline scanning I don't need or want such functionality, which potentially could feed other Google services in the future

blobcatjustright

Paul Ganssle Feb 8, 2025

@gytisrepecka @jack That still seems materially different from the thing Apple was doing, no? Apple was going to scan your images and report you for potential CSAM. This thing says it uses an on-device model to detect nudity and notify you that an image contains nudity before showing it to you or before you send it to someone.

Wildduck Feb 8, 2025

@pganssle @gytisrepecka @jack I'm not a Google fan but as i read in this link, everything seems to be analysed "on device". Or the nude detection isn't, because "on device" isn't repeated for this part ?

Daniel Bohrer Feb 8, 2025

@gytisrepecka @jack this is about Google Messages. I don't use Google Messages and it is not installed on my device. The article doesn't say anything about scanning other images on the device (i.e. visible in gallery) as far as I can see.

Teoh Han Hui Feb 9, 2025

@gytisrepecka @jack https://grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/113969399311251057

GrapheneOS (@[email protected])

The functionality provided by Google's new Android System SafetyCore app available through the Play Store is covered here: https://security.googleblog.com/2024/10/5-new-protections-on-google-messages.html Neither this app or the Google Messages app using it are part of GrapheneOS and neither will be, but GrapheneOS users can choose to install and use both. Google Messages still works without the new app.

GrapheneOS Mastodon

@jack The best time to set Google on fire was 10+ years ago, the next best time is now.

🐈‍⬛David Sommerseth Feb 7, 2025

@e_mydata, You got us covered, right?

Miroslav Kravec Feb 7, 2025

@jack wouldn't custom ROM be a better alternative?

jack Feb 7, 2025

@kravemir I'd consider Calyx and Graphene Cusom ROMs. Maybe even Morena.

Many other variants of Lineage OS will probably be OK, but you'll have to look for one that supports your phone at least semi-officially by providing regular updates.