Google, on February 10, announced that it has made it easier for users to request the removal of non-consensual explicit images from its search engine. To do this, users need to click on the three dots above an image on Google Search, select 'remove result' and then choose 'it shows a sexual image of me'.
Apart from this, users can now also report more than one image for removal. "You no longer have to report each image individually. This new tool lets you select and submit requests for multiple images from search results in a single, simple form," Google stated.
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The search engine giant added that this new and simplified reporting mechanism will be rolled out to most countries in the coming days.
Announcement on same day as India launched new AI rules
Google's announcement came on the same day that the Indian government introduced a new set of rules for social media companies and online platforms.
According to the changes made by the IT Ministry to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, online platforms must now remove non-consensual intimate images within two hours instead of 24 hours. Other types of illegal content need to be taken down within three hours, which is a reduction from the previous 36-hour timeframe.
The new rules require mandatory labelling of AI-generated content on social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat. The earlier draft rules stated that the label on AI-generated content should cover at least 10 per cent of the space. However, the newly issued rules only require that these labels be "prominently" visible.
Non-consensual explicit imagery has increased with the growth of generative AI. Earlier this year, Grok, the AI chatbot service created by Elon Musk's xAI, faced backlash from regulators globally, including in India. This was due to its ability to help users on X (formerly Twitter) easily generate non-consensual, sexually explicit images based on real photos of people from the platform.
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'This is only part of the solution'
"We understand that removing existing content is only part of the solution. For added protection, the new process allows you to opt-in to safeguards that will proactively filter out any additional explicit results that might appear in similar searches," Google said in its blog post.
Users can track the status of all their removal requests in the 'Results about you' tab. They will receive e-mail notifications whenever there is a change in the status of their requests. Google also mentioned it will connect users who submit a removal request to expert organisations that provide emotional and legal support.
Snapchat and OpenAI announcements
Snapchat has extended its "Home Safe" feature to enable users to send arrival notifications for different destinations, including arriving home safely. This will enable users to notify their contacts about their location status without having to manually send messages.
"Arrival Notifications now work for everyday moments — like letting someone know you're back for the night while traveling, or automatically sharing when you arrive at a weekly class, practice, or meeting — without needing to remember to send a message," Google wrote.
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OpenAI, on the other hand, has described how it plans to enhance safety for teenagers in India. This includes the development of tools to predict the age of users, age-friendly policies and parental controls, which will be developed in consultation with educators and policymakers. The company has also pointed out its existing safety measures, including reminders for breaks, prompts for crisis support, and a complete ban on the generation of child sexual exploitation content.
