Google will pilot new anti-theft features for Android phones in Brazil using AI to detect and lock stolen devices, aiming to combat the rising phone theft problem in the country. The initiative includes three types of screen locks and will initially be available to users with Android versions 10 or higher.
Alphabet Inc.’s Google announced on Tuesday that it will pilot new anti-theft features for Android phones in Brazil, starting in July. The features leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to detect when a phone is stolen and subsequently lock the screen. This initiative is part of a response to an increasing phone theft problem in Brazil, where nearly a million smartphones were reported stolen in 2022.
The initial test will include three types of screen locks aimed at preventing unauthorized access. The first method uses AI to recognize movement patterns indicative of theft and automatically lock the screen. The second feature allows users to remotely lock their devices by entering the phone number and completing a security challenge from another device. The third feature involves automatically locking the screen if the phone is without internet access for extended periods.
These features will be available to Brazilian users with Android versions 10 or higher. Google plans to roll out these features to other countries later this year. In addition to Google’s new measures, the Brazilian government launched the Celular Seguro app in December, enabling users to report and block stolen phones. Approximately 50,000 phones have been blocked using the app as of the last month.
Additionally, a separate incident occurred on Tuesday in Newport, where a blue Nissan Qashqai crashed through the front wall of the Fortlea apartment building on Gaer Road, entering a ground-floor living room. Some residents have been given temporary accommodation following the crash. Emergency services were present at the scene to assess the damage. Another car involved in the incident had its rear end significantly damaged.
