Instagram Tests 'Nudity Protection' Tech to Curb Unsolicited Pics in Your DMs
Are you getting too many dick pics in your Instagram DMs? The social network is working on nudity protection technology intended to stop people from sending unsolicited nude photos.
An early screenshot shared by researcher Alessandro Paluzzi hints at a new feature that "covers photos that may contain nudity in chat," leaving it up to the individual whether or not to peek.
Parent company Meta confirmed to The Verge(Opens in a new window) that this function is in development, adding that the optional user control "will help people shield themselves from nude photos as well as other unwanted messages."
Opt in and Instagram will automatically blur images that it believes include nudity in Direct Messages; users are then offered the option to access said content. It's unclear what Meta classifies as "nudity"; the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"We're working closely with experts to ensure these new features preserve people's privacy, while giving them control over the messages they receive," Meta tells The Verge. Expect more details "in the next few weeks" as the firm begins testing the control, which it likened to "Hidden words," which it introduced in April 2021(Opens in a new window) to filter abusive messages.
The photo blurring could help combat cyberflashing—the act of sending obscene pictures to people (often strangers) online through Bluetooth or other online services, like Apple's AirDrop. A crime in Singapore(Opens in a new window) since May 2019, cyberflashing is set to become(Opens in a new window) a criminal offense in the UK (specifically England and Wales), where it carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison.
Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to
Read more on pcmag.com
