Google tests Android's new smartphone theft detection via AI in Brazil

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Google presented the second beta version of the upcoming Android operating system for mobile devices at its own developer conference Google I/O in May. One of the new security functions of Android 15 is the automatic detection, supported by artificial intelligence, that the smartphone is being stolen. The phone is then automatically locked. Google is now having this function tested by users in Brazil.

If the motion sensors detect that the phone has been snatched from your hand and the thief is now fleeing on foot or by bike, Android immediately locks the smartphone automatically. If the theft detection does not work, for example because the phone was slowly stolen from a handbag or a car, it can be remotely locked, located or, if necessary, reset to factory settings using the "Find my device" function, which deletes all sensitive data on it.

Cell phone theft on the rise in Brazil

Thieves often do the latter with stolen smartphones in order to sell them afterwards. Android will put a stop to this in future: Phones marked as stolen cannot be put back into operation even after a factory reset without the access data of the previous Google account. This means that Google cannot prevent the theft of the smartphone, but it could deter potential thieves from committing the crime. In addition, the private data stored on the cell phone is protected.

The theft detection is based on feedback from Brazil, Google explains in its own blog. More and more cell phones are being stolen in the country. In 2022, almost one million stolen smartphones were counted in Brazil, reports Forbes. That is 16 percent more than in the previous year. The Brazilian government has even launched its own service that allows stolen smartphones to be locked remotely. However, the service has so far been little accepted. At the beginning of this year, only 1.2 million cell phones were registered for this service. However, around 250 million smartphones are used in Brazil.

Other security function still problematic

Another security function of Android 15 Beta is still causing problems for Google. "Private Space" is a data vault for sensitive apps. Applications in Private Space can only be opened after a separate PIN has been entered. This prevents unauthorized users from opening banking apps, for example, if they get their hands on the unlocked smartphone. However, app icons disappeared from the home screen after Private Space was activated.

While Private Space is reserved for Android 15, automatic theft detection will also be available for older Android versions, which significantly expands the test in Brazil. Android users in Brazil who want to register for the test with Google only need to have a smartphone with Android 10 or higher.

More Google functions only in Brazil

Google is also testing new and simpler contact options in its own search engine in Brazil. Local users will be able to contact restaurants, stores or clinics directly via WhatsApp or text message in the search results. Reservations or appointments can also be made directly. And restaurant operators can scan their menus with AI to create digital versions. These functions have so far been reserved for Brazil.

(fds)