Google Update Lets Employers Archive Work-Phone Messages
Google’s latest update for Android work-managed devices will allow employers to archive SMS and RCS text messages sent or received on company-issued phones. The change applies only to devices controlled through enterprise mobility management tools, raising fresh concerns about digital privacy in the workplace.
How the Feature Works
Under the update, organisations can install approved archiving apps on work-managed devices. These tools can save all SMS and RCS communications, including edited or deleted messages. Even encrypted RCS chats can be archived once the device is placed under enterprise management. Employees will receive a notification indicating that message archiving is enabled on their work phone.
Only company-issued and company-managed devices are affected. Personal devices, or phones not enrolled in an employer’s management system, cannot be accessed or archived.
Rising Privacy Concerns
Digital rights groups warn that the move could significantly reduce employee privacy, as workers may not realise the extent of monitoring possible on work phones. Critics say archiving all texts amounts to continuous surveillance, especially since deleted messages can still be retrieved.
Why Companies Support It
Employers argue that communication archiving is essential for legal compliance, particularly in regulated sectors such as finance, law, and government contracting. Maintaining records of official communication is often mandatory, and the update allows companies to meet those standards even with modern encrypted messaging platforms.
What Employees Should Know
Anyone using a company-issued Android device should now assume that all text-based communication — whether SMS or RCS — may be stored. Experts advise employees to conduct personal conversations only on personal devices to avoid unintended exposure of private messages.
