Google Now Allows Employers to Archive Employee Texts on work Phones
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – December 9, 2024 - Google is now enabling organizations to archive RCS text messages on Android devices issued to employees, raising privacy concerns about workplace communication. the new feature, announced on the Google blog, allows employers to access employee text message content, despite the use of end-to-end encryption during transmission.
According to Google, the capability is available on Google Pixel and other compatible android Enterprise devices and aims to help organizations meet regulatory requirements. The company states this is “a dependable, Android-supported solution for message archival, which is also backwards compatible with SMS and MMS messages as well.” Employees will receive a notification on their device when the archival feature is active.
while end-to-end encryption protects messages in transit, Google clarifies that messages are decrypted on the device itself, making them accessible to anyone with control of it. This advancement shifts the landscape of workplace communication, where texting has historically been perceived as more private than email – ”a woefully insecure technology that is easy for employers to monitor.”
The change is expected to impact organizations across all industries, not just those subject to strict regulations. Concerns are growing that this new capability will drive employees towards using unauthorized “shadow IT” communication platforms like WhatsApp and Signal to maintain privacy, a trend already identified as a risk by cybersecurity firms like Mimecast.
Google emphasizes the feature provides “all the benefits of RCS – like typing indicators,read receipts,and end-to-end encryption between Android devices – while ensuring your organization meets its regulatory requirements.” However, employees with work-managed Android phones are now advised to be aware that their text messages are no longer fully private.
