Charles Deluvio
via Unsplash
Google Blurs Explicit Images, Streamlines Report System
By Movieguide® Contributor
Google recently announced that it will blur explicit imagery that appears in search results and streamline its image-reporting process.
“Earlier this year, we announced a new safeguard that helps protect you and your family from inadvertently encountering explicit imagery on Search,” Google wrote. “With this update, explicit imagery — such as adult or graphic violent content — will now be blurred by default when it appears in Search results.”
“The new SafeSearch blurring setting is rolling out for all users globally this month. You can adjust your settings and turn it off at any time, unless a guardian or school network administrator has locked the setting,” the statement continued.
This change marks a significant step in protecting teens and children from pornography.
As Movieguide® reported:
Most teens (73%) have consumed pornography, only 44% had ever done so “on purpose,” while 58% had encountered pornography accidentally.
How do so many teens accidentally come across pornographic material? Of the 58% who reported accidentally encountering pornography, 51% said they encountered it “via clicking a link, search engine result, an online ad, or on social media in some way.”
“Google announced that sexually explicit or violent images will be blurred by default in search results, even when SafeSearch isn’t turned on,” The National Center of Sexual Exploitation shared on Instagram.
“Google announced that explicit images will be blurred by default,” the post continued. “This decision is a tremendous step forward in keeping children safe online. It also protects survivors of image-based sexual abuse whose exploitation could turn up in a Google Search. Well done, Google!”
“Google has overwhelming market share, with roughly 93% of global Internet searches being conducted on Google. As Google Images accounts for 62.6% of all Google searches (over 5.3 billion searches per day!), it’s clear that the number of people protected by this change is truly enormous,” NCOSE reported.
Google has also updated its “reporting process for non-consensually created or shared explicit images.”
“Reports for IBSA [image-based sexual abuse] are now filed through a single form that guides survivors through the process, rather than forcing survivors to navigate multiple forms with confusing (and at times contradictory) language. Survivors can now report up to 1,000 URLs in the same form,” NCOSE added.
Movieguide® previously reported on Google’s efforts to remove sexually explicit images:
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) reports they’ve successfully worked with Google Images to remove pornographic images when anatomical terms are searched on GooglePlay.
The NCOSE began working with Google last year after an email they received about a young boy researching the term “slavery” for a school project.
After using the word “bondage” in the search bar, he saw “countless sexually violent images and links of sexual torture,” according to the release.
During the NCSE’s most recent meeting with Google, executives informed them the problem is virtually solved.
Now, when anatomical terms are searched on Google Images, the site will populate educational drawings instead of real-life photos. Even now when a person searches a pornographic term, the number of hardcore pornography images is drastically reduced.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
