A new report suggests Apple support of RCS has nothing to do with the EU

[Nick Cine]

Apple's decision to introduce RCS support to iMessage sometime in 2024
wasn't caused by pressure from Europe, according to a new report.

To answer why Apple changed its stance on RCS, Gruber cannot say with
certainty, but after months of online whispers, he declares Apple's hand
"was effectively forced" by China.

Gruber points out that Chinese carriers have supported RCS for years, to
the level that the Chinese government started in 2023 to codify into law
that new 5G devices would require RCS support to be certified in the
country.

Though Apple is thought to prefer to ignore RCS so it doesn't have to deal
with new non-E2EE protocols or new carrier-controlled protocols, the
control of China's government comes into play and forces changes, the
report concludes.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/02/19/apples-new-rcs-stance-may-have-been-forced-by-china

[Alan Browne]

Good article.

Despite China being a government nightmare for encryption, Apple seem to
want RCS to impelment E2EE. Perhaps in Chinese phones it will be disabled.


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- John Maynard Keynes.