Google Messages will master cross-platform MLS encryption

Messages App by Googleis expected to come soon support cross platform format. The messenger is going to apply Messaging Layer Security or MLS, a recently released end-to-end encryption system. The update will allow messaging with other messengers that also use MLS.

Cross-platform encryption ensures secure communication between platforms, making it seamless and secure. Successful implementation of such interaction requires that companies maintain a single standard. Now implementation of MLS at Google in a priority. At the same time, the company continues to use the old protocol – RCS (Rich Communication Services).

European communications regulators have been discussing for a long time the idea of ​​creating a system that would allow communication in group chats via different messengers. However, researchers from Oxford in 2017 pointed out vulnerabilities in some applications, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Google Allo. According to them, the possibility of intercepting group messages is high if at least one participant is compromised. MLS was designed to solve this problem.

The MLS protocol is being developed under the auspices of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). The Board approved the project’s publication in March and tested draft versions of MLS in Webex and RingCentral chats.

As far as we know, Google plans to include MLS in Android open source. However, the details and timing have not yet been clarified, as well as the question of compatibility of RCS with MLS-based encryption. The only question that remains is whether other major technology companies will adopt the new protocol.