Though no precise implementation date has been given, the GSM Association (GSMA), which is in charge of creating the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard, declared on Tuesday that it is working to implement end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for messages sent between Android and iPhone devices.
The announcement follows Apple's recent adoption of RCS with the release of iOS 18, which switched text messages sent to Android users from SMS to RCS texting. Even though the upgrade includes features like read receipts, typing hints, and high-resolution media sharing, end-to-end encryption is conspicuously absent.
The next step for RCS Universal Profile, according to GSMA technical director Tom Van Pelt, will be the "first deployment of standardized, interoperable messaging encryption between different computing platforms." The goal of this action is to close a large security gap in cross-platform messaging.
Not every RCS provider offers E2EE at this time. One of the exceptions is Google Messages, which last year enabled E2EE by default for RCS talks. E2EE is also included in Apple's proprietary iMessage system; however, RCS communications are not protected.
Text content could not be viewed by third parties, including messaging services or cell carriers, if E2EE was implemented for cross-platform RCS messages. Additionally, this extra security would stop the government from monitoring the conversations of its residents.
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