Google Now Allows Employers to Archive Android RCS Messages, Raising Privacy Concerns
MOUNTAIN VIEW, โขCA -โค December โข1, 2025 – Google has introduced a newโ feature enabling organizations to archive Rich Dialog Services (RCS) messages on employee-managed โขAndroid devices, sparking debate over workplace privacy. The update,โ available on โขGoogle Pixel and โother compatible Android Enterprise devices, allows employersโ toโ archive RCS โcommunications while still providing employees with features โlike typing indicators, โread receipts, and end-to-end encryption between Android devices.
According to Google, the capability is designed to help organizations โคmeet regulatory requirements. “This new capabilityโฆgives yoru employees all the benefits of RCSโฆwhile ensuring yourโข institution meetsโค its regulatory requirements,” google โขstated in a blog post.
The move comes as companies grapple with compliance in regulated industries and the increasing use of โคunapproved communication apps by employees – often referred to as “shadow IT.” Concerns have โgrown thatโ employees are turning to platforms like WhatsApp and Signal to bypass โcompany oversight.However, experts note this update is unlikely to resolve โคthat issue.
Google clarified โthat the update โขdoesโ not extend to โคarchiving content from other messaging apps like WhatsApp and signal. “Thisโข update does not change or impact the privacy of personal devices,” a Google spokespersonโ told reporters. “This is an optional feature for enterprise-managed work phones โin regulated industries where employees are already notified that their communications are โคarchived for compliance reasons.”
The core difference โขliesโ in โฃhow RCS and other โmessaging platforms are integrated into the operating system. SMS and RCS messaging are builtโ into โขAndroid โ(and iOS), while over-the-top platforms control โฃtheir own encryption and decryption. While databases from those platforms can be included in a general phone archive, they โคare not automatically subject to the new RCS archiving feature.
Previously,Google stated,employers had to fully block RCS usage to ensure compliance. This updateโ allows organizations to โsupport modern messagingโ features – โincluding high-quality media sharing and typing indicators – while maintaining existing compliance standards applicable to SMS messaging.
Employees with work-managed Android phones should expectโข to receive aโข notification informing them that theirโ text messages are no longer fullyโฃ private.