End-to-end encryption (E2EE) helps keep messages private by ensuring that only you and the person you’re chatting with can read them. However, it can be challenging for users to verify whether their conversations are encrypted in every messaging app. Google is introducing a new way to make this verification easier and less repetitive, using Google Contacts and Google Play Services.
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The Problem with Current Encryption
Many secure and private messaging apps use E2EE to keep messages secure. It typically works automatically, so most users don’t need to verify it manually. However, if privacy is important to you, you might want to verify that the encryption is working manually.
Currently, verifying encryption requires opening a chat, navigating to encryption settings, and comparing long security codes or scanning QR codes. This process must be repeated for each contact and every app, making it both repetitive and time-consuming. It can also be frustrating if you frequently communicate with the same people across multiple messaging apps.
Google’s New Solution in Android 15
To address this issue, Google is adding a Contact Keys Manager feature in Android 15. While it doesn’t change how encryption itself works, it simplifies verification by centralizing the process.
Instead of verifying encryption separately for each app, Google’s solution allows users to verify a contact once through Google Contacts. Once verified, that status will apply across all supported apps that choose to integrate with this system. This means users will no longer need to repeat the verification process for each app, reducing redundancy and saving time.
This feature is similar to Apple’s iMessage Contact Key Verification feature. While Apple’s implementation streamlines encryption across multiple devices using iCloud, Google’s approach focuses on streamlining encryption verification across multiple apps using Google Contacts and Google Play Services.
How the Feature Will Work
- Users can go to Contact Settings in Google Contacts to generate or scan a QR code for a contact.
- Once both people scan the QR code, the encryption key for that contact will be verified, and this verification will work across all supported apps.
- Users can also manually compare verification codes, but the main advantage is that you only need to verify each contact once, not in every app.
When Will This Be Available?
The Contact Keys Manager is expected to launch with Android 15, which is currently in beta. Users can expect this feature to be available with the full release of Android 15.
In the current Android 15 beta, this feature is still in its basic form, especially compared to Apple’s Contact Key Verification feature, which can notify users when any new device is added. However, since this feature is still in beta, it could become more feature-rich by the time of release.
A Step Forward for Secure Messaging
Google’s new feature focuses on reducing the confusion and repetition involved in encryption verification. By centralizing the process via Google Contacts, users can save time and avoid re-verifying encryption across multiple apps. This makes managing secure communication simpler and more consistent.
