Google has announced an update to Chrome for Android that expands its Safety Check feature to automatically revoke notification permissions from websites users rarely engage with. This aims to reduce notification overload, a significant issue for many users.
Expanded Safety Check
The update introduces a new process where Chrome will notify users on Android when it revokes permissions, using an alert stating "Chrome unsubscribed you from notifications." If multiple sites are affected, the notification will indicate the number of sites involved. Users have the option to "Review" the changes, which opens Chrome's Safety Check settings, listing the sites impacted and allowing permissions to be restored if desired.
It's important to note that this feature does not affect web apps installed on the phone.
Testing and Impact
According to Google, testing revealed a significant decrease in notification overload, with only a slight change in the total number of notification clicks. This suggests the update effectively targets inactive permissions without disrupting important alerts or user interactions.
While a precise rollout date is not provided, this update is expected to launch soon in tandem with the next major Android feature drop. The feature is also anticipated to extend to Chrome on desktop platforms eventually.
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