The GSM Affiliation (GSMA) has formally introduced assist for end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for securing messages despatched by way of the Wealthy Communications Providers (RCS) protocol, bringing much-needed safety protections to cross-platform messages shared between Android and iOS platforms.
To that finish, the brand new GSMA specs for RCS embrace E2EE primarily based on the Messaging Layer Safety (MLS) protocol by way of what’s referred to as the RCS Common Profile 3.0.
“The brand new specs outline apply MLS inside the context of RCS,” Tom Van Pelt, technical director of GSMA, mentioned. “These procedures be certain that messages and different content material equivalent to information stay confidential and safe as they journey between shoppers.”
This additionally implies that RCS would be the first “large-scale messaging service” to have assist for interoperable E2EE between totally different shopper implementations from totally different suppliers within the close to future.
It is price noting that Google’s personal implementation of RCS, used within the Messages app for Android, secures conversations utilizing the Sign protocol to handle the shortage of built-in E2EE protections. That mentioned, the encryption safeguards are presently restricted to messages exchanged by way of the app, and never these exchanged with the iOS Messages customers or customers of different RCS shoppers on Android.
The event comes almost six months after the GSMA mentioned it was working in direction of implementing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to safe messages despatched between the Android and iOS ecosystems. The transfer adopted Apple’s determination to roll out assist for RCS in its personal Messages app with iOS 18.
In July 2023, Google revealed that it intends so as to add assist for MLS to its Messages service and open-source implementation of the specification.
“RCS continues to assist a spread of interoperable messaging capabilities between iOS and Android customers, equivalent to group messaging, the flexibility to share high-resolution media, and see learn receipts and typing indicators,” Van Pelt mentioned.
When reached for remark, Google mentioned, “We have all the time been dedicated to offering a safe messaging expertise, and Google Messages customers have had end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) RCS messaging for years. We’re excited to have this up to date specification from GSMA and work as shortly as attainable with the cellular ecosystem to implement and prolong this necessary consumer safety to cross-platform RCS messaging.”
