Google is pressing forward with the evolution of RCS by quietly rolling out tests for Messaging Layer Security (MLS), the protocol meant to finally bring true cross-platform end-to-end encryption to messaging. The change, spotted in Google Messages, aligns with the broader push to make RCS a secure, universal alternative to SMS — especially as Apple prepares to join the party (Source: 9to5Google).
Powerful, secure, universal multimedia messaging
Could the dream soon be realized at last?
This past March, the GSMA officially adopted MLS in Universal Profile 3.0, the industry-standard blueprint for rich communication service, or RCS messaging. Google announced its backing of the protocol in 2023, but things got serious when Apple, long criticized for its walled-off iMessage ecosystem, committed to implementing RCS support with encryption earlier this year. While Cupertino hasn’t given a concrete timeline, its eventual support gives RCS the cross-platform legitimacy it’s lacked for years.
Now, Google Messages users may start seeing early signs of this secure future. A revamped message “Details” page, currently in limited testing, gives a sneak peek at MLS in action. The redesigned interface — accessed via a long-press on a message — is now fullscreen and shows a preview of the selected message at the top. Below, a “Status” section indicates whether a message is “Sent” or “Delivered,” complete with new, modern checkmark icons using Google’s updated circle style.
Further down, technical metadata reveals the inner workings of the message. A “Type” field confirms the use of “End-to-End Encrypted Rich Communication Service,” and a field labeled “Encryption Protocol” reads EncryptionProtocol(value=1) — a value that correlates with MLS, as previously uncovered in app teardowns. Google’s legacy encryption system for Android messages uses value=0, suggesting this new protocol is now live — at least for some.
The new ‘Details’ page is rolling out on a very limited basis
While this UI redesign and MLS support aren’t yet widely available in the beta channel, the rollout underscores Google’s commitment to RCS as the future of secure messaging — one that works across devices and platforms. By implementing MLS now, Google not only gets ahead of Apple’s still-pending rollout but also lays the groundwork for broader adoption by OEMs, carriers, and third-party clients.
This move could also help pressure Apple to accelerate its own RCS support, ensuring encryption is not just a feature but a baseline expectation. Google’s proactive stance, paired with its dominant position in Android messaging, puts real momentum behind MLS — and makes it harder for others to stall on implementation. The next-generation messaging protocol may have started slow, but with Google and Apple both moving toward universal encryption, RCS’s future is finally looking like one users can trust.
