Google tools to combat mobile phone theft start rolling out to users

LONDON: Google's new range of security features designed to combat mobile phone theft - including an AI-powered tool which can sense when a device is snatched - have begun rolling out to users, the German news agency (dpa) reported.

Theft Detection Lock uses artificial intelligence (AI) and sensors inside a device to identify when a thief has grabbed and fled with a user's phone and locks the screen to prevent them accessing it or any data stored on it.

That feature is accompanied by a tool called Remote Lock, which enables users to remotely lock their device using just their phone number should it be lost or stolen.

Google stated that this feature will help users who cannot remember their Google credentials immediately after a theft, but still need to secure their personal data.

The tools are being rolled out as part of Android 15, the latest version of the firm's mobile operating system, which was first announced earlier this year.

At the time, the company said they were being introduced in response to ongoing concerns about rising levels of mobile phone theft, as well as feedback from its own staff and users in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and in the UK.

"Phone theft is a widespread concern in many countries - 97 phones are robbed or stolen every hour in Brazil, and a phone is reported stolen every six minutes in London alone," Google said in a blog post about the new tools.

"With our phones becoming increasingly central to storing sensitive data, like payment information and personal details, losing one can be an unsettling experience.

"That's why we developed and thoroughly beta tested a full suite of features designed to protect you and your data at every stage - before, during, and after device theft."

-- BERNAMA