Google has announced support for Messaging Layer Security (MLS) encryption in 2023, aiming to establish a new standard for end-to-end encryption (E2EE) across apps and platforms for one-on-one and group chats. Google Messages is now incorporating MLS encryption to enable E2EE interoperability, and the functionality has been activated for one-on-one conversations.
MLS encryption shines in Google Messages
According to Android Authority‘s latest APK teardown, the latest version of Google Messages, v20250106 beta, has revealed a new flag for handling the MLS encryption protocol. This flag, labeled “bugle.enable_zinnia_in_conversations,” uses “Zinnia” as the codename for MLS encryption within the app. When experimented with, enabling this flag sets the encryption protocol value to 1, indicating that MLS encryption is in use. Conversely, a value of 0 signifies that the default encryption for Rich Communication Services (RCS) is still operational.
Currently, MLS encryption can only be activated for one-to-one conversations using specific flags, while group chats remain set to 0. Flipping this value to 1 would represent the next significant progress marker towards comprehensive encryption in group chats.
At this stage, MLS encryption is not available to users of Google Messages. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
What does this do?
MLS encryption is a protocol designed to provide end-to-end encryption for messaging platforms. It ensures that messages sent between users are encrypted in such a way that only the sender and recipient (or recipients, in the case of group chats) can read them. Not even the platform (Google, in this case) can access the contents of the messages.
In Google Messages:
- MLS encryption enables end-to-end encryption for one-on-one chats.
- For group chats, this encryption is not yet fully implemented but is being tested.
- The feature is toggled by a flag labeled “bugle.enable_zinnia_in_conversations” in the app’s internal settings. When this flag is set to “1,” MLS encryption is active, ensuring the privacy of the messages.
MLS encryption strengthens privacy by ensuring that messages are only readable by the intended recipient(s). MLS is designed to make end-to-end encryption interoperable across different messaging apps and platforms. Currently, MLS encryption is only available for one-on-one conversations in Google Messages.
Featured image credit: Google
