Globally popular messaging app Messages has started rolling out a long-awaited feature for group chats: end-to-end encryption. At the moment, however, Google does not make it available to everyone, only to participants in the beta program of the application, and only to some.
One-to-one RCS conversations received end-to-end encryption already in the middle of last year. At this year's Google I/O developer conference in May, the software giant said it would be coming to group chats in the foreseeable future. In October, it said it would start rolling out the feature this year and continue rolling it out next year.
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Late last week, Google announced that end-to-end encryption "will be available to some users of the open beta program in the coming weeks." Group chats will feature a banner that says "This chat is now protected with end-to-end encryption," while a lock icon will appear on the Send button.
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As a result, neither Google nor any third party will be able to read the content of your RCS chats. End-to-end encryption requires all parties to have RCS/Chat features enabled as well as Wi-Fi or mobile data turned on.
