Google has announced several significant updates to its Search functionality, focusing on handling deepfakes and expanding the “About this image” feature. These changes aim to enhance information literacy and user privacy by improving how deepfakes are managed and providing more context for images encountered online.
Enhanced Deepfake Handling in Google Search
Google has updated its Search algorithms to better handle deepfake content in two main ways:
- Improved Ranking System: Google’s new ranking system is designed to ensure deepfake content does not rank highly in Search results. This update aims to surface high-quality, non-explicit content, such as relevant news articles, when users search for information that might include deepfake content. Emma Higham, Product Manager at Google, noted that these changes have already improved deepfake management by 70%.
- Easier Removal of Deepfakes: Google has simplified the process for removing deepfakes from Search results. When an individual successfully requests the removal of explicit non-consensual fake content, Google’s systems will now also filter out all explicit results for similar searches. Additionally, Google will scan for and remove any duplicates of the removed image from its index.
Distinguishing Real Nudes from Deepfakes
Google has made improvements in differentiating between real, consensual explicit content (such as actor nude scenes) and explicit fake content like deepfakes. This task is complex, but Google is continually enhancing its ability to surface legitimate content while downranking explicit fake content. The company uses patterns among sites to determine if a site frequently violates its policies, which helps in ranking decisions and demoting low-quality sites.
“About this Image” Expansion
The “About this image” feature, which provides context about images found in Search, is now being expanded to Circle to Search and Google Lens. Launched about a year ago, this feature is similar to “About this result” for text-based search results. It shows when and where the image and similar images were first indexed by Google, and where else they have appeared, such as on news or social sites.
With this expansion, users can now access the “About this image” feature through Circle to Search and Google Lens, providing more ways to quickly get context on images. Nidhi Hebbar, Senior Product Manager at Google, announced that this feature is rolling out to give users better tools to understand the origins and context of the images they encounter.
Summary
- Enhanced Deepfake Management: Improved ranking system to reduce deepfake visibility and easier removal processes.
- Differentiating Real from Fake: Better identification of real versus fake explicit content.
- “About this Image” Expansion: Now available in Circle to Search and Google Lens for better image context.
These updates reflect Google’s commitment to improving information literacy and protecting user privacy in the age of generative AI and synthetic content.
