Types of files & messages scanned
An antivirus scan is automatically done on files uploaded in Google Chat. If Google Chat finds malware, or the file type isn’t allowed for attachments:
- Google Chat warns you.
- Google Chat prevents downloads of the file.
Learn how Google detects & reports online child sex abuse
Google Chat detects online child sexual abuse under the Regulation (EU) 2021/1232, which provides for a derogation from the confidentiality of communications under Articles 5(1) and 6(1) of the Directive 2002/58/EC for the purpose of combating online child sexual abuse.
Google does not allow the use of our services to create, upload, or distribute content that exploits or abuses children. To keep our service safe we use technology (i.e. hash matching) to detect such content. If we find such content, we will take appropriate action, which may include removing the content and disabling accounts. Users whose accounts are disabled are provided with information on available redress avenues if the user disagrees with our decision. Users within the European Union can also lodge a complaint to their country’s relevant data protection authority and they have the right to seek a judicial remedy as laid out in the Regulation 2021/1232.
Relevant information, which may include personal information and the violative content, is reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), which in turn forwards reports to law enforcement authorities around the world, as appropriate.
Restrict message requests for personal accounts
For personal accounts, you can choose to restrict messages from unknown senders in Chat.
Report Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery
If you find intimate images or videos shared without an individual’s consent, you can report it to Google Chat.
After you submit a report, our teams review the content. If our team confirms the content is NCII, they remove it.
To prevent NCII from being uploaded or shared again in Google Chat, our system also scans for content we previously identified as NCII.
- On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
- In Gmail: On the left, click Chat.
- Open the conversation with the message you want to report.
- Hover over the message with the image or video attachment.
- Click More actions
Copy message link.
- From the conversation menu, select Blocking & reporting.
- In the pop-up, click Report non-consensual intimate imagery.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the report. If prompted, include the copied link.
