Google has enabled RCS message archival for fully managed Google Pixel devices. This allows organizations to capture and store encrypted communications, helping them comply with laws and respond to legal inquiries. So if you’re using Google Messages for personal matters on your company device, you may want to reconsider.
The feature works by letting third-party archival apps integrate directly with Google Messages, notifying them whenever an RCS message is sent, received, edited, or deleted on a work device.
Unlike older carrier-level logging systems that break with encrypted messaging, this solution captures message data on the device itself while maintaining end-to-end encryption in transit. The archival app then reads the message content and makes it available to IT organizations for their records. The system works backward-compatible with SMS and MMS messages, too. Employees see a notification whenever archival remains active on their device.
Google Messages still delivers all its other RCS benefits, like typing indicators, read receipts, high-quality media, and end-to-end encryption between Android devices. At the same time, the organization meets its regulatory needs.
The feature rolls out first on Pixel and will extend to other compatible Android Enterprise devices as they qualify.