Google announced new features that will use artificial intelligence to protect user data if an Android smartphone is stolen. Brazil, where about two mobile phones are stolen every minute, will be the first country where the new system will be tested, Fabio Coelho, Google’s Brazil director, said in a blog post on Tuesday. “Feedback from Brazilian users inspired these anti-theft features, and the country will be the first to test them,” Coelho said.
The new functions, tests in Brazil: what it’s about
Starting in July, Brazilian users with compatible Android devices will be able to access a beta version of Google’s new theft detection lock, offline device lock, and remote lock. The Theft Detection Lock uses artificial intelligence to detect movements commonly associated with theft and quickly lock your phone’s screen, aiming to prevent thieves from easily accessing the data on your device.
Remote lock will allow users to access Find My Device without having to remember their Google account password, allowing them to remotely wipe and lock their device. Offline device lock, on the other hand, automatically locks your device’s screen to protect your data even when it’s not connected to the network. The phone screen is also locked if multiple authentication attempts fail. Google has also launched a pilot project in the South American country for greater fraud protection, already tested in Singapore and Thailand.
