Google Messages could soon feature end-to-end encryption for cross-platform messaging

2 min readUpdated Jun 4, 2025Jul 21, 20236:05 AM

In this article (5)

Rich Communication Services (RCS) is the messaging platform available on the Messages by Google app for Android. Similar to Apple’s iMessage, RCS runs off data connectivity, not cellular connectivity. This allows it to send and receive huge messages, share higher-quality images and videos, deliver read receipts and typing indicators, and offer end-to-end encryption.

But like a chat made up of iMessage users that loses all of its great features when an Android user dares to join the group, the same thing happens when an iPhone user joins a chat session made up of RCS users. One of the features that both RCS and iMessage users lose when someone from a rival platform joins a group chat is the aforementioned end-to-end encryption.

As Google said in a blog post it published on Wednesday, “This is why Google is strongly supportive of regulatory efforts that require interoperability for large end-to-end messaging platforms.”

Google writes, “For interoperability to succeed in practice, however, regulations must be combined with open, industry-vetted, standards, particularly in the area of privacy, security, and end-to-end encryption.” And this makes sense. Otherwise, you’ll have a situation where end-to-end encryption would be a mess. “Group messages would have to be encrypted and delivered multiple times to cater for every different protocol,” the company says.

As a result, Google announced that it is supporting Messaging Layer Security (MLS) which would allow end-to-end encryption to remain in effect between two large messaging platforms like iMessage and RCS. MLS is a protocol developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and now enables “practical interoperability across services and platforms, scaling to groups of thousands of multi-device users.”

Google plans on integrating MLS into Google Messages. The goal is to have users of the Google Messages app enjoy secure group chats with all members of a group chat regardless of the messaging app they are using.

AdvertisementAdvertise with usMobile 320×100

Questions & Answers

What happens to the features of RCS or iMessage when someone from a rival platform joins a group chat?

When an iPhone user joins an RCS chat or an Android user joins an iMessage chat, both messaging platforms lose some of their key features. Specifically, end-to-end encryption is lost in these cross-platform group chats.

What is Google's stance on regulatory efforts for messaging platforms?

Google strongly supports regulatory efforts that mandate interoperability for large end-to-end messaging platforms. They believe regulations need to be combined with open, industry-vetted standards, especially for privacy, security, and encryption, to succeed in practice.

Which specific protocol does Google support to maintain end-to-end encryption across different platforms?

Google supports Messaging Layer Security (MLS), a protocol developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force. MLS would allow end-to-end encryption to remain in effect between large messaging platforms like iMessage and RCS, even in cross-platform groups.

What is the primary goal of integrating MLS into Google Messages?

The main goal is for users of the Google Messages app to have secure group chats with all members. This means secure encryption would work regardless of the specific messaging app other participants in the group chat are using.

Reader pulse

Will cross-platform E2EE benefit retailers?

17,078 votes so far