A significant update to Google's Android operating system now grants employers the power to read text messages sent and received on company-issued smartphones. The change, which took effect from Monday 1 December 2025, introduces a new level of oversight for businesses managing their workforce's devices.
How the New Monitoring Feature Works
The system allows businesses to intercept and view SMS, MMS, and RCS messages on fully managed work devices. Crucially, the technology can also access messages that have been edited or deleted by the employee. This capability is facilitated through third-party archival applications that integrate directly with the Google Messages app.
When the feature is active, IT departments within organisations are notified of message activity. Employees will also receive a notification that their communications are being monitored, though they may have little recourse to disable it on a device owned by their employer.
Compliance and Investigation: The Stated Reasons
Google and supporting archival firms state the primary purpose of the tool is to help companies meet strict regulatory requirements. This is particularly relevant for firms governed by bodies like the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which often mandates comprehensive record-keeping of business communications.
Beyond compliance, the feature is marketed as an aid for internal investigations and resolving human resources disputes. The ability to retrieve edited or deleted messages provides a complete audit trail that was previously difficult or impossible to obtain on standard mobile devices.
Privacy Concerns and Limitations
The move is certain to spark debate over employee privacy rights in the digital workplace. While monitoring company email and computer use is commonplace, extending this to personal-feeling text messages marks a notable shift.
It is important to note a key limitation: encrypted messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram are unaffected by this Android update. The monitoring currently applies only to standard SMS, MMS, and Google's RCS messages. However, this may leave employees using work phones for all communications feeling exposed, especially as SMS is still widely used for two-factor authentication and casual contact.
The development underscores the diminishing expectation of privacy on employer-provided technology. Legal experts suggest workers should assume all activity on a company device is potentially visible to their employer, a principle now extending decisively into the realm of text messaging.
