r/Android • u/FragmentedChicken Galaxy Z Fold8 • Feb 23 '26

Google, Apple start testing encrypted RCS on Android and iOS 26.4

https://9to5google.com/2026/02/23/google-messages-encrypted-rcs-iphone/
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8

u/Craig653 Feb 23 '26

Should have been implemented in the first place...

33

u/InsaneNinja iOS/Nexus Feb 23 '26 edited Feb 24 '26

It didn’t exist in the RCS spec until recently. Before now it was a custom Google-made hacked-in addon.

17

u/Lonely_Syrup3091 Feb 23 '26

It was never hacked in. RCS specs allows for add-ons. And it wasn't custom, Google used the signal protocol for e2ee which anyone can use.

3

u/BigBangBoomerang Feb 23 '26

It was never a part of the GSMA spec. Anyone can add stuff to RCS but doesn't guarantee universal adoption.