The Silicon Valley giant is no stranger in taking controversial decisions from time to time. And now, it has added another jewel to its crown, something that has infuriated the masses, and rightly so. It has silently installed the Android System SafetyCore app onto numerous Android devices without even obtaining consent from the users in the first place.
Don’t get us wrong the app is quite a useful one and will go a long way in protecting users from viewing unwanted content, but the way it has been pushed to the user’s devices is something worth questioning. Before going any further, let’ give you a sneak peak of what this app actually does.
Table of Contents
What is Android System SafetyCore
Android System SafetyCore is a system service from Google that provides the underlying technology for features like the upcoming Sensitive Content Warnings feature in Google Messages. This in turn will help users protect themselves when receiving potentially unwanted content.
Do note that the SafetyCore feature has already started rolling out last year, but the Sensitive Content Warnings feature in Google Messages is an optional feature that has started its gradual rollout this year only. Another important thing to note is that the processing for the Sensitive Content Warnings feature is done locally [on-device] and all of the images or specific results and warnings are private to the user only. So this begs the all-important question-
What’s the Issue With Android System SafetyCore
So you might be scratching your heads that since this app beholds such important features, why is it being bashed left, right, and center? Well, as we have told you in the introductory para, users have no issues with the app, rather they are questioning the way this app has been secretly installed onto their devices.
Some users have also said that the app didn’t even wait for a WiFi connection, it got installed via their carrier data itself. others have said that they were seeing the app being installed on their device but there was no option to pause or cancel the download. This even gave the notion that it might be malware of sorts since it is being forcibly installed onto their device and users were unable to do anything in this regard.
Many have also said that the app isn’t being shown in the Play Store, they can only get hold of it via a direct link [we could personally verify this claim too, see above screenshot], thereby adding more fuel to the fire regarding the app being a virus of sorts. So this brings us to our next question-
Is Android System SafetyCore Safe or is it a Virus?
Yes, Android System SafetyCore is a completely safe app that has been developed by Google themselves. The concern surrounding this app is mainly due to the fact that the Silicon Valley giant had given no granular control to the users or even informed them beforehand.
After all, if an app gets suddenly installed on your device which has no trace anywhere on the Play Store, switches over to your carrier data when WiFi is not present, and gives you no control during the downloading, then it is sure to raise a few eyebrows. And that has been the case with this app. With that said, it is still safe and can have an abode on your device if you prefer to give it one. Which then brings us to our last question-
Can We Uninstall Android System SafetyCore?
Yes, you can easily uninstall and remove the Android System SafetyCore app from your device. This comes as a rather surprise because it is a system service that cannot be uninstalled unless you take the help of ADB commands or root.
But thankfully that isn’t the case here and you can easily remove the app directly from the Settings > Apps section. However, as fate would have it, many have said that the app tends to automatically install itself after a few days once you uninstall it. So it seems this love-hate relationship isn’t going anywhere soon!
Much Ado about Nothing or an Actual Concern?
On that note, we round off this post. What are your views about the way the Silicon Valley giant has taken measures regarding this app? Has the entire scenario been blown out of proportion because it’s an app from Google itself and isn’t conflicting with the day-to-day usage of your device?
Or this is something that isn’t justified by any imaginable means because Google should take the device owner’s consent as it is their device and they should have complete say in which apps they should install and which they shouldn’t? Do share your valuable opinions with us in the comments section below.
UPDATE: Android System Key Verifier
It seems the above fiasco was just the tip of the iceberg! We now have similar reports coming about the Android System Key Verifier app as well [Play Store link]. This was also installed without taking any consent from the users whatsoever. As far as the functioning of this app goes, the Android Key Verifier system service lets developers store end-to-end encryption keys and lets users verify that their apps are using the correct keys when communicating.
Although it is a system service, this too can be uninstalled from the Settings > Apps menu. While that’s well and good but why is Google installing these apps without obtaining consent from the users is definitely something worth questioning. Unfortunately, we, as a user, don’t usually have much [or rather any] say in this and the best we can do is to voice our concerns across all the possible platforms, though it isn’t going to cause any slightest of dents in Google’s next move!
