{
  "id": 1933660,
  "title": "First look: Here’s how Google Photos’ new Redact tool will work",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/first-look-heres-how-google-photos-new-redact-tool-will-work",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-19T12:27:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Android Authority",
    "slug": "android-authority",
    "url": "https://www.androidauthority.com/google-photos-redact-mode-demo-apk-teardown-3700415/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Google Photos has unveiled its new Redact tool, which allows users to hide sensitive information in their photos. This feature has been unearthed after a recent APK teardown revealed a Redact tool hidden within the code of Google Photos. Initially, the button in the Markup section was unresponsive, causing the app to crash when tapped, leaving the true functionality of the tool shrouded in mystery. However, after switching to version 7.89, Android Authority was able to successfully activate the feature and test it out.\n\nThe Redact tool offers three distinct redaction styles: Mosaic, Mosaic Light, and a noise-based Blur. These options provide users with varying degrees of obscuring techniques to protect sensitive areas within their photos. Currently, this feature remains in development, and there is no indication of a public rollout at the moment. Despite this, the demonstration clearly shows that Google has progressed from a non-functional button to a functional feature, marking a significant improvement in the tool's development.",
  "summary": "We enabled the feature ahead of its release to try the new Mosaic, Mosaic Light, and Blur redact modes firsthand.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Android Authority",
        "title": "Google Photos could soon let you keep your phone awake all night for a good reason",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/google-photos-could-soon-let-you-keep-your-phone-awake-all-night-for",
        "published": "2026-08-19T08:55:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}