Google fake call detection for everyone

The Phone by Google app wants to combat the “growing threat of impersonation” and protect Android users from “sophisticated, AI-powered deepfake attacks” by detecting fake calls.

Fake call detection requires both parties to be using Android and using the Phone by Google app, and they must also have the Google Messages and Google Contacts apps installed. When a contact calls, their phone “sends a real-time, silent confirmation signal to your device to verify that the call is legitimate and actually coming from the contact’s device.”

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This digital handshake uses end-to-end encrypted RCS (Rich Communication Services). If someone is trying to trick you, your phone will notice that the “initial confirmation signal is missing” and will alert the contact’s real device to double-check. If their real device says “I’m not on a call right now,” you’ll get a warning on your screen advising you to hang up immediately.

This feature will be available globally on phones running Android 12+ starting with Pixel devices this month.

Fake call detection will be enabled by default, but can be disabled at any time.

Google says it's "likely for other app and device manufacturers to adopt this technology" given the foundations of RCS.

You can learn more about detecting fake calls from Google's blog post.

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