iPhone and Android customers will be capable to alternate end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) RCS messages within the close to future because of newly up to date RCS specs. The GSM Association introduced that the most recent RCS commonplace consists of E2EE based mostly on the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol, enabling interoperable encryption between completely different platform suppliers for the primary time.
The GSM Association mentioned it had began working to allow E2EE on messages despatched between Android and iPhone in September final yr. E2EE is a privateness and safety function that stops third events, akin to messaging suppliers or cell carriers, from viewing the content material of your texts. The GSMA says the brand new RCS commonplace was developed in collaboration with “cell operators, system producers, and know-how suppliers,” together with Apple.
“End-to-end encryption is a robust privateness and safety know-how that iMessage has supported because the starting, and now we’re happy to have helped lead a cross trade effort to deliver end-to-end encryption to the RCS Universal Profile revealed by the GSMA,” mentioned Apple spokesperson Shane Bauer. “We will add help for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS in future software program updates.”
Apple launched RCS help to iPhones as a part of an iOS 18 replace in September. While Apple’s proprietary iMessage system already supported E2EE, this wasn’t prolonged to RCS messaging as a result of the earlier RCS commonplace didn’t present cross-platform help. Google Messages additionally enabled E2EE by default for RCS texts, however solely conversations between Google Messages customers have been E2EE, and never these exchanged with iMessage customers or customers of different RCS shoppers on Android.
“We’ve at all times been dedicated to offering a safe messaging expertise, and Google Messages customers have had end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) RCS messaging for years,” Google spokesperson Ed Fernandez instructed The Verge. “We’re excited to have this up to date specification from GSMA and work as shortly as doable with the cell ecosystem to implement and prolong this essential consumer safety to cross-platform RCS messaging.”
Update, March 14th: Added assertion from Google.
