Google Messages to offer new privacy settings for profile discovery feature

Google Messages is adding new privacy settings to help users control who can see their profile details. This comes after concerns that the Profile Discovery feature could make your name and photo visible to anyone.

Announced in November 2023, the Profile Discovery feature lets others find your profile by searching your phone number. But now, Google is adding more privacy choices to address these users’ concerns.

The search giant just released a new beta version (v20241010) of Google Messages, which includes three new privacy settings for your profile. These features have been spotted by AssembleDebug (via Android Authority).

The three new privacy settings for Google Messages profile are as follows:

1.) People you message

• This feature lets anyone you message see your name and profile picture. It’s like making your profile “Public,” meaning people who have your number can find and see your details.

2.) Only your contacts

• This setting limits your profile to only people saved in your phone’s contact list. If you want more privacy, this choice makes sure only people you know can see your name and photo.

3.) No one

• This option hides your profile from everyone. If you pick this, no one will be able to see your name or photo, even if they search for your number.

Google hasn’t confirmed if choosing “No one” will completely turn off Profile Discovery, but these options help make your profile more private. Notably, you can’t set a different name or picture for Google Messages yet. Your profile will still use the name and photo from your Google account, like your Gmail.

The Profile Discovery feature isn’t available to everyone yet. These new privacy settings give users more control over their information before the feature becomes available to everyone.