Editor-DN
What you need to know.
- Code inside the recent Google Messages beta reveals the company’s plans to upgrade the app with spam detection for international texts.
- This feature may come in the form of a “cross-country” folder, which may function similarly to the existing Spam and Blocked bins.
- Google recently rolled out Gemini in Messages to more devices and added texting with 911 over the summer via RCS-enabled chats.
A deeper dive into Google’s messaging app may reveal some hints about some additional protection against spam coming.
Code in a recent beta build for Google Messages shows the company is working on a “cross-country” spam folder. Unreleased features are observed by AssembleDebug (Android Authority) in App Recent messages.android_20240923_01_RC00 beta version.
There are several strings in the app’s beta code about this new cross-country folder and how to use it. Google’s initial description of the function suggests that international “no contact” messages will be placed in a new cross-country “folder”.
However, if you receive a message from a person, business, or someone else, there may be options to forward those texts. Messages shows options for moving text cross-country to your inbox. Additionally, it looks like Google will provide more insight into the feature via a “Why is this message here” button.
The publication suggests that Google may implement different detection parameters for overseas messages to improve its spam detection and avoid false positives.
Spam detection and “prevention” messages have a feature called “spam and blocked”. Texts from senders that the app considers spam will be thrown into a different category of this inbox. The app already notifies users when a new message is misplaced in spam and blocked, so maybe we’re looking at something similar for “Cross Country.”
What’s more, an option in Google Messages > Settings > Spam Protection Lets you turn this feature on or off. The tipster discovered that Google could give users a toggle for international spam, as well, to keep user agency in the game.
Spam detection for foreign text is likely taking longer because the tipster had nothing to say about its potential launch.
Other than Gemini becoming available to more people, new developments in Messages have been relatively quiet. The AI model app is available for devices with at least 6GB of RAM. Its usability and experience mirrors that of the app or web-based version. In Messages, Gemini lets users generate ideas, plan an upcoming event, and more.
Additionally, Google Messages also welcomes texting with 911 officials through RCS-powered chats.
