Jakarta, INTI - Google has officially introduced end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for Gmail on Android and iOS. However, this feature is still limited and not yet available to all users.
Based on a report from Bleeping Computer, E2EE access in Gmail mobile is currently only available to certain customers, such as Google Workspace Enterprise Plus users and organizations that have enabled encryption settings through their administrators.
With this update, users can now send and read encrypted emails directly from the Gmail app without requiring additional applications. This feature is an improvement as it was previously only available on the website version of Gmail. With E2EE on the mobile app, users can access their emails more easily and flexibly.
“For the first time, users can compose and read these E2EE messages natively within the Gmail app on Android and iOS. No need to download extra apps or use mail portals,” stated Google as written on its official website.
Message and Attachment Contents Cannot be Read by Others
The feature allows emails to be encrypted from the moment they are created on the user's device, so that message content and attachments cannot be accessed by others, including Google itself. Furthermore, users with an E2EE license can also send encrypted emails to any address, not limited to fellow Gmail users.
For recipients, Gmail users will see the message as usual in their inbox, while users outside of Gmail can open it through a browser with additional security.
Activating this feature has also been simplified. Users simply tap the lock icon while composing an email, then select the additional encryption option. This method is considered more practical than legacy methods like S/MIME, which require manual certificate management.
This step demonstrates Google's commitment to strengthening the security of digital communications, especially for companies and organizations that handle sensitive data. With the arrival of E2EE on mobile devices, Gmail now offers more consistent protection across platforms.
Conclusion
Google is introducing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in Gmail for Android and iOS devices, although it is currently limited to certain users, such as Google Workspace Enterprise customers. This feature allows users to send and read encrypted emails directly from the app without the need for additional applications. When enabled, email content will not be accessible to other people or even Google itself, except the sender and the recipient.
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