The GSMA is preparing a new security standard for all mobile devices.
The GSMA, the organization responsible for the development of the Rich Communications Services (RCS) protocol, has announced plans to implement end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to protect messages transmitted between Android and iOS. This is an important step to keep users safe across platforms.
GSMA CTO Tom Van Pelt noted that the next key step will be the addition of end-to-end encryption to the Universal Profile standard. He stressed that the implementation of cross-platform encryption will face a number of technical challenges, such as key pooling and cryptographically enhanced group membership.
These plans were announced a day after the release of iOS 18 with RCS support in the Messages app, which allowed the addition of new features such as message reactions, typing indication, read receipts, and high-quality media transfer.
Despite the improvement of RCS over SMS, the protocol does not support encryption by default at the moment. Google has already started using the Signal protocol to protect RCS messages on Android, and Apple has previously announced that it is ready to cooperate with the GSMA to integrate encryption into RCS.
It is important to note that Apple's own iMessage system already uses end-to-end encryption, ensuring the privacy of users' messages. It is also reported that Google in July of this year planned to implement the Message Layer Security (MLS) protocol in its Messages app for Android, which should help improve compatibility with other messengers.
Meta, in turn, is working on ways to ensure the compatibility of WhatsApp and Messenger with third-party messengers as part of the requirements of the European Digital Markets Act (DMA). At the same time, the company strives to maintain end-to-end encryption where possible, despite all the technical difficulties.
According to Meta representatives, the process of creating such cross-platform solutions is technically complex, but the company is doing everything possible to preserve user privacy.
Source
The GSMA, the organization responsible for the development of the Rich Communications Services (RCS) protocol, has announced plans to implement end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to protect messages transmitted between Android and iOS. This is an important step to keep users safe across platforms.
GSMA CTO Tom Van Pelt noted that the next key step will be the addition of end-to-end encryption to the Universal Profile standard. He stressed that the implementation of cross-platform encryption will face a number of technical challenges, such as key pooling and cryptographically enhanced group membership.
These plans were announced a day after the release of iOS 18 with RCS support in the Messages app, which allowed the addition of new features such as message reactions, typing indication, read receipts, and high-quality media transfer.
Despite the improvement of RCS over SMS, the protocol does not support encryption by default at the moment. Google has already started using the Signal protocol to protect RCS messages on Android, and Apple has previously announced that it is ready to cooperate with the GSMA to integrate encryption into RCS.
It is important to note that Apple's own iMessage system already uses end-to-end encryption, ensuring the privacy of users' messages. It is also reported that Google in July of this year planned to implement the Message Layer Security (MLS) protocol in its Messages app for Android, which should help improve compatibility with other messengers.
Meta, in turn, is working on ways to ensure the compatibility of WhatsApp and Messenger with third-party messengers as part of the requirements of the European Digital Markets Act (DMA). At the same time, the company strives to maintain end-to-end encryption where possible, despite all the technical difficulties.
According to Meta representatives, the process of creating such cross-platform solutions is technically complex, but the company is doing everything possible to preserve user privacy.
Source
