Google will automatically obscure results for searches sensitive images, soon

New SafeSearch default settings from Google automatically blur explicit images in search results for the majority of users, hovering halfway between "on" and "off." Google described a number of steps it intends to take to "defend democracy globally," secure high-risk users, enhance password management, and safeguard credit card details in a blog post timed to Safer Internet Day. A significant improvement to search results, Google's second primary product after advertising, is tucked away in a series of minor-to-moderate releases. Photo Credit: BOL News In the "coming months," a new setting will "blur explicit imagery if it appears in Search results while SafeSearch filtering isn't turned on," according to Jen Fitzpatrick, senior vice president of Core Systems & Experiences at Google. If a user doesn't already have the SafeSearch filter enabled, this setting will be their new default, however they always have the choice to change it. Someone is logged in and searching for pictures of "Injury" in Google's explanation image (shown above). The blurring of explicit images in search results is indicated by a notification that states, "Google turned on SafeSearch blurring." It's true that one of the example image results, "Dismounted Complex Blast Injury (DCBI)" from ResearchGate, is highly explicit when it comes to human viscera and musculature. If you click on that hazy picture, Google offers one last check: "The content of this picture might be explicit. blurring for SafeSearch is enabled." You may observe how frail life is by selecting "View picture." You have three options when you select "Manage setting": Filter (where explicit results don't appear at all), Blur (where blurring and are-you-sure clicks happen), and Off (where you see "all relevant results, even if they're explicit"). Users who are signed in and under the age of 18 have SafeSearch automatically enabled, which blocks "pornography, violence, and gore" content. With this modification, Google will automatically obscure sexual content for anyone using Google who doesn't log in, stays logged in, and expressly requests to see it instead. In addition to ensuring users are signed into Google if they're looking for something... very specific, it's a way to stop kids from accessing graphic imagery. It seems that using an anonymous window is not an option. Photo Credit: Avast In August 2021, under pressure from Congress to better safeguard minors across all of its services, including search and YouTube, Google enabled SafeSearch as the default setting for users under the age of 18. Also read: In a recent update, Google Search has added a podcast directory