Gmail introduces blue checkmark for enhanced inbox security on Android and iOS

Image Credits - paperearn

The blue checkmark, a longstanding symbol of authenticity, has found a new purpose in Gmail’s fight against spam and phishing. After launching the feature on the web version last year, Google is now rolling it out to Gmail apps on Android and iOS. This update is part of Gmail’s broader Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) system, aimed at enhancing email security and helping users easily identify legitimate senders.

Google’s announcement, shared in a recent blog post, emphasized that this blue checkmark feature will help users differentiate between trusted sources and potential phishing scams. Verified senders with BIMI certification and a registered trademark will display a blue checkmark next to their brand identity, signaling authenticity to recipients. This rollout began on September 24 for both Workspace and personal Google account users and will be made available to everyone over the next two weeks.

The BIMI system not only verifies sender identities but also enables businesses with registered trademarks to authenticate their logos through a third-party verification process. This ensures that the logo and email domain used by senders are genuine, adding an extra layer of security for Gmail users.

A new feature included with this rollout is the introduction of common mark certificates (CMC), which Google plans to support soon. CMC will allow more senders to participate in the BIMI system, even if they lack the registered trademarks needed for a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC). However, while these senders can display their brand avatars in Gmail using CMC, they won’t have the recognizable blue checkmark, which is reserved for VMC-approved senders.

While some may see the absence of a blue checkmark for CMC-certified senders as a limitation, Google’s approach of using the checkmark to highlight authenticity remains a crucial step in keeping inboxes secure. The reintroduction of the checkmark on Gmail aims to preserve its value as a symbol of trust, differentiating it from platforms where the checkmark has been commodified.