Tech Desk 
Jul 28, 2024
Google in 2023 promised to support Messaging Layer Security (MLS), a protocol designed to enhance security and privacy across platforms.
MLS is a standard presented by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) offering enhanced security for communication groups ranging from two to thousands of members.
Mostly the popular messaging services provide end-to-end encryption where only the sender and receiver can decrypt or read the message using the private key.
Read more: Google Messages likely to allow users send high quality images over RCS
However, the issue occurs when group chats are involved as when the size of the group increases, providing post-compromise security becomes difficult.
The MLS system allows group members to derive and update shared keys. The protocol uses tree structures to achieve forward secrecy and message integrity in large groups.
Presently, Google Messages, the default messaging app on most Android phones, uses Rich Communication Services (RCS) that offers encrypted chats and features like read receipts, high-resolution media sharing etc
Recent reports from an Android Authority APK teardown indicate that in the near future, Google is likely to introduce MLS as the default security layer to its messaging app.
Although Google hasn't officially announced when it will adopt MLS, once it does, other messaging services are also likely to follow it enabling better security between communication apps. The adoption of MLS will also impact how Apple integrates RCS for messaging in its iOS 18.
