The GSM Affiliation (GSMA) has formally introduced help for end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for securing messages despatched through the Wealthy Communications Companies (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 embody E2EE based mostly on the Messaging Layer Safety (MLS) protocol through what’s known as the RCS Common Profile 3.0.
“The brand new specs outline learn how to apply MLS inside the context of RCS,” Tom Van Pelt, technical director of GSMA, stated. “These procedures make sure that messages and different content material equivalent to information stay confidential and safe as they journey between purchasers.”
This additionally implies that RCS would be the first “large-scale messaging service” to have help for interoperable E2EE between completely different shopper implementations from completely different suppliers within the close to future.
It is value noting that Google’s personal implementation of RCS, used within the Messages app for Android, secures conversations utilizing the Sign protocol to deal with the shortage of built-in E2EE protections. That stated, the encryption safeguards are presently restricted to messages exchanged through the app, and never these exchanged with the iOS Messages customers or customers of different RCS purchasers on Android.
The event comes practically six months after the GSMA stated it was working in the 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 help for RCS in its personal Messages app with iOS 18.
In July 2023, Google revealed that it intends so as to add help for MLS to its Messages service and open-source implementation of the specification.
“RCS continues to help a spread of interoperable messaging features between iOS and Android customers, equivalent to group messaging, the power to share high-resolution media, and see learn receipts and typing indicators,” Van Pelt stated.
When reached for remark, Google stated, “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 cell ecosystem to implement and lengthen this necessary consumer safety to cross-platform RCS messaging.”