Android’s new antitheft feature is now in testing

This is probably how the fool would look thinking they're getting away with a steal. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Google is now testing Android 15's automatic theft detection features announced at the I/O developer conference in May. The company tapped Brazil to play host for the initial testing grounds on account of local feedback from users in the country, which is an apparent hotbed for smartphone snatching. You can sign up to try the feature right now if you happen to live there.

Theft Detection Lock, as it's called, uses AI to determine whether certain jerky movements are indicative of an ongoing theft attempt. In addition to relying on motion, it can also use other tells, such as someone attempting to use it on a different network or if it notices it's off a frequently used network for an extended time.

Google announced the automatic...

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