In March 2025, the GSMA and Apple announced the adoption of the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol, a significant advancement in cross-platform end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for Rich Communication Services (RCS). This development aims to facilitate secure messaging across various RCS clients and providers. Google had previously committed to supporting this interoperable protocol in 2023.
Google Messages is now actively testing MLS encryption for RCS, introducing a revamped Details page for individual messages. This new interface offers a full-screen view, providing users with a comprehensive preview of the message at the top. The Status section has been enhanced to display Sent and Delivered indicators, accompanied by explanations of the new checkmark symbols. Notably, Google has adopted a single-circle design for these indicators, which is yet to be widely implemented.
Additional sections include From, detailing the sender’s information, and a technical breakdown at the bottom, presenting specifics such as:
– Type: End-to-End Encrypted Rich Communication Service message
– Priority: Normal
– Message ID: [unique identifier]
– Encryption Protocol: EncryptionProtocol(value=1)
An earlier analysis suggested that the 1 value corresponds to the new MLS protocol, while 0 represents Google’s existing encryption method for Android devices.
Currently, this redesigned interface and MLS encryption are in the testing phase within the beta channel of Google Messages. The extent of this rollout remains limited, and it’s uncertain whether MLS encryption is active, as the previous user interface does not indicate its presence. Additionally, Apple has yet to announce a specific timeline for implementing MLS support.
The integration of MLS into Google Messages signifies a substantial step toward enhancing the security and interoperability of RCS messaging. By adopting this standardized encryption protocol, Google aims to provide users with a more secure and seamless messaging experience across different platforms and devices.
