Google’s latest Android feature could let your boss read your RCS texts on your work phone

• Google is rolling out a new text-archiving feature for Pixel phones
• It allows companies to comply with regulations in case of legal disputes
• But as every text is archived, your boss might be able to read what you say

Do you have a Google Pixel phone provided by the company you work for? If so, your boss might soon be able to read your RCS messages thanks to an upcoming change to the Google Messages app on Android.

As laid out in a Google blog post, the Android RCS Archival feature will let company-managed Pixel phones (and “other compatible Android Enterprise devices”) integrate third-party archiving apps into Google Messages so that they can take a backup of every text that passes through. That includes messages both sent and received, plus texts that are edited or deleted.

The move is being made to help companies abide ...