Google has expressed its support for the new Messaging Layer Security (MLS) standard, as per the Internet Engineering Task Force's (IETF) RFC 9420 specifications. Google highlights that this new standard has been designed to facilitate interoperability among messaging services, including WhatsApp, Messenger, and Google Messages, and across different operating systems in an effective and large-scale manner.
The company also intends to make the implementation of MLS open-source, making it accessible to app developers via the Android code base. This move aims to promote broader adoption of the MLS standard in the developer community, thus pushing it towards becoming a conventional feature of messaging apps and benefitting users with increased security and seamless communication.
Google's push for the MLS standard also has the potential to transform the current landscape of encrypted communications. If lawmakers and market regulators lend their support to this standard, every app developer could utilize MLS for end-to-end encryption (E2EE) without needing to maintain proprietary E2EE protocols. This would lead to a significant simplification of encryption implementation for app developers.
Moreover, the adoption of this standard could help eliminate additional security worries by ensuring that third-party middleware plays no role in maintaining interoperability. It could also significantly enhance the feasibility of implementing E2EE group chats across different platforms. This is because MLS standard adherence would mean messages would no longer be delivered in different formats, resolving the issue of format mismatch like RCS messages on iPhones.
In conclusion, Google's support for the new MLS standard could signify a major breakthrough for messaging app security and interoperability. As the Internet landscape leans towards higher security and seamless cross-platform communications, supporting MLS could not only standardize E2EE but also simplify its comprehensive implementation across various messaging platforms and operating systems.