Google Messages being worth it?

E24

With Apple supposedly adding support for RCS this year, would it be worth it to use google messages so there is at least some level of encryption with my contacts who do not use signal

grapheneosfan2

The RCS standard itself does not have any encryption yet, only Google's implementation has encryption and Apple isn't going to implement Google's implementation. It may take a while for encryption to be added to the RCS protocol itself and I would recommend using a messaging app such as Signal in the mean time.
edit: I see now that you mention that not everybody you know uses Signal, I'm not sure what I would recommend personally in this situation

Stewart

I asked the same question on Privacy Guide and this is what it said.
It may help you in your decision.
https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/google-message-and-the-rcs/15388/1

Hazelfoot

It goes through Google's servers, who will put up zero fight against a subpoena for your data. I'm also not convinced the encryption means anything since message content is pushed in plain text through the push notifications.

The only reason to use RCS is for enhanced messaging features such as less compressed images, reactions, etc. Assume by default you have zero privacy.