Google Messages will now have an AI scam detector feature for Pixel devices. This is joined with a similar implementation for phone calls. Although such data is processed on-device, you probably should not trust the security model of these new features.
Both the Scam Detection for Messages and voice security features analyze the conversation data on the device without sending any sensitive information to Google, so the new features respect users’ privacy.
Also, a characteristic “beep” will play at the start of the conversation, audible by both parties, to notify participants that AI-based analysis is taking place.
Still, Google decided to keep Scam Detection for calls disabled by default to relieve privacy concerns.
Financial scams are huge in countries like Brazil and India where banking almost exclusively happens on smartphones. These scams disproportionately affect the lower middle class and the poor. The law enforcement agencies in these countries are hopelessly understaffed, (intentionally?) incompetent, and totally corrupt.
This is a positive step by Google.
In fact, I was mulling building a FOSS alternative (I’ve personally been scammed) but I can’t seem to find enough time for what seems like a readily implementable project, much to my chagrin.
I would definitely recommend this feature for the less technical people in my life, since phone scams have become so prevalent, it would be easy for someone who’s not security-minded to fall for one