Summary
Google has updated Android to allow employers to access and save text messages on work phones. This feature, called RCS Archival, is designed to help companies meet legal and regulatory needs. It only applies to phones given and controlled by employers, not personal phones.
Key Facts
- Google introduced a feature called RCS Archival that lets employers access messages on work phones.
- The feature applies to RCS, MMS, and SMS messages on fully managed work phones.
- Employers can use this function to follow legal rules and handle data requests.
- Employees receive notifications on their phones when message archiving is active.
- Only employer-issued and managed Android phones are affected, not personal devices.
- The system does not impact encrypted apps like WhatsApp and Signal.
- The archival feature is currently working on Google Pixel and some other Android phones.
- New partners for this archiving function are expected by 2026.
