Googleplans to enhance its search engine by more thoroughly suppressing explicit, unwanted intimate images.
In an effort to enhance online safety and privacy, Google has announced a new collaboration with StopNCII, a global initiative aimed at making intimate images posted online without consent harder to find. This partnership is part of a broader movement that involves several major tech companies, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Microsoft, and TikTok.
StopNCII operates by collecting hashes, or digital fingerprints, of intimate photos or videos claimed to have been shared without consent. It's important to note that StopNCII never receives the actual depictions, as they are uploaded anonymously.
The collaboration between Google and StopNCII only affects Google's search results and does not cover other online platforms. This means that images registered on StopNCII.org will no longer appear in Google's search results.
Google's new initiative is not limited to real images. Deepfakes, or AI-generated depictions, are treated equally by StopNCII. For such depictions, the person shown must appear to be at least 18 years old. The minimum age for images or videos at StopNCII is 18 years old.
It's worth mentioning that StopNCII does not verify if the person reporting is indeed depicted and affected. Those affected as minors should contact the Project Take It Down of the UK's National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Google is also collaborating with the UK's Revenge Porn Helpline to provide additional support to those affected. Previously, Google had a webpage for affected individuals to request censorship of personal information.
However, there is a possibility that operators of erotic websites could potentially try to suppress the spread of competing images using StopNCII. It's crucial to remember that the initiative is designed to protect individuals from non-consensual sharing of intimate content, not to favour one party over another.
All partners, including Google, promise not to show registered photos or videos. This commitment is a significant step towards creating a safer online environment for all users. The implementation of this new collaboration between Google and StopNCII is set to be implemented in the coming months.
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