Google rolls out fake call detection feature to protect against AI deepfake impersonation scams

Google announced Tuesday that Android will launch fake call detection to protect against AI deepfake impersonation scams. The feature will roll out globally this month on Phone by Google for Android 12 and later devices, starting with Pixel devices.

As more people refuse to answer calls from unknown numbers, scammers are changing their tactics, including spoofing trusted phone numbers and using AI deepfake technology to pose as authority figures, family members, and employers.

For example, you may receive a call that shows the caller ID “Mom” and the voice sounds exactly like her, but the caller may actually be a scammer using AI tools to impersonate her and request money for a fake emergency.

This new feature is enabled by default and works automatically in the background.

Google describes the new feature as like a “digital handshake between devices.” When a contact calls you and you’re both using Phone by Google, the other person’s phone sends a silent confirmation signal to your device to confirm that the call is legitimate and actually came from the other person’s phone.

“If a scammer attempts to impersonate a trusted contact, the initial verification signal will be lost,” Google explained in a blog post. “Your device notices this instantly and double-checks by pinging your contact’s physical device. If the other person’s physical device says ‘Not currently calling,’ you’ll see a warning on your screen asking you to hang up immediately.”

The tech giant says it built this feature on top of Rich Communication Services (RCS), allowing other apps and businesses to adopt the technology.

The launch of fake call detection was announced along with other updates to Android, including a new Google Photos feature that lets users virtually try on outfits. The new ‘Wardrobe’ feature converts the clothes you’re wearing in your photo library into snapshots that are cataloged and viewed on your phone. This feature will roll out next week to eligible users in the US, India, and Brazil running Android 10 or later.

Additionally, Google Play Books now has a new “Catch me up” feature that allows users to return to stories with summaries. Users can also highlight sentences and ask questions. These features are rolling out to some English titles today.

Google is also making it possible to search for entire outfits using its “Circle to Search” feature. This feature allows you to search for all items in a costume at once, instead of having to search for each part. This update is now available for all Android 14+ devices with Circle to Search.