Google cracks down and hides explicit images from search results

Google has rolled out the expanded SafeSearch for everyone, which is an online privacy tool that acts as a filter and shields users from potentially explicit, inappropriate or offensive content on Google Search and Images. This tool is automatically enabled for users under the age of 18 to ensure their online safety while browsing the vast web. It only works on searches carried out through Google Search, and not on other search engines. 

Google reported that about 61 percent of children this year come across inappropriate content online at least once, up from 54 percent last year. Google has now further strengthened SafeSearch with additional functionalities to protect children online. With the new expanded SafeSearch setting, it will automatically blur out explicit imagery such as graphic, violent or adult content. It is expected to act as a shield for those users whose SafeSearch filtering isn’t turned on. The expanded SafeSearch setting will blur out the inappropriate content by default when it appears in Search results. Guardians or school network administrators can lock this setting so that children won’t be able to disable it. 

In a blog post, Norman Ng, Regional Operations Lead of Trust & Safety Global Engagements at Google Asia-Pacific said, “Embracing technology with guardrails for safe, reliable content and also empowering kids to make informed decisions are essential in today’s digital parenting. Together, we can help our children stay safe and thrive in the online world.”