Google Messages rolls out end-to-end encryption for RCS group conversations
Google Messages is rolling out end-to-end encryption of RCS group conversations. That was previously available within the beta, but now appears to be coming to people outside the beta as well.
Rich Communication Services
Google is promoting RCS a lot. It would like Apple to add it to its messaging app as well. Rich Communication Service is the ‘new’ SMS, where you can also send emoji and even photos. End-to-end encryption and thus making messaging more secure has long been tested in group conversations, but is now being rolled out to people outside that test group. Google is already moving more towards Apple iMessage, which has been applying encryption to group conversations for some time.
It has been possible for one-on-one conversations since 2021, but now also for groups. You will recognize it in the version info of the app, because it is called messages.android_20230329_00_RC01.phone_dynamic. It just doesn’t seem to be available to everyone yet, so if it’s not your turn yet, it’s probably not your device. You can also see it if you go into a group chat and then look under encryption, where it’s clearly stated in the chat details (it will say that end-to-end encryption is ‘on’.
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Categorization disappeared
In addition, it appears that categories within Messages have now disappeared for some users. It appears in the general category, but also in the business and personal categories. Normally they are below the search bar, but now they are gone. You also can’t turn it on, which you could normally do via Settings and then view messages by category with the primary categories on, but that doesn’t work anymore either. It does not occur with one specific version of Google Messages, but with several versions on different smartphones. Whether it has anything to do with the advent of end-to-end encryption is unknown. In any case, this option is only available in English-speaking countries.
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Do you already have this encryption on your group chats? Leave it now in the comments.
