Google Meet to get client-side encryption for these users

Google’s Workspace client-side encryption (CSE) is a feature that is designed for companies that “need an extra level of confidentiality and makes the media indecipherable even to Google,” including audio and video. According to a report by 9to5Google, after Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides, another Workspace tool is getting updated with the client-side encryption feature — Google Meet.
The tech giant has also updated its blog post to announce the same. As per the report, CSE can be important for meetings in highly regulated industries and will also be essential for “calls regarding sensitive intellectual property.” Moreover, Google is also expected to add Workspace client-side encryption to Calendar and Gmail, the report suggests.
Google Meet CSE availability
As per a Google blog post, Meet already encrypts all user data “at rest and in transit” between its platforms. However, client-side encryption will give users “direct control of their encryption keys and the identity service that they choose to authenticate for those keys.” initially, CSE will launch in Google Meet for the web platform and later on it will be included with the mobile app and the meeting room hardware support.

This new feature will be available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard and Education Plus customers hosting client-side encrypted calls. However, it will not be available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Education Fundamentals, The Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Frontline, and Nonprofits, along with legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers.
Google Meet CSE implementation details
Google has also listed some implementation details which mention some of the basic requirements needed for CSE calls on Meet. Firstly, when client-side encryption is turned on, the organiser will need to join for the call to start. For example, if other participants in the call join early, they will have to wait for the organiser to join before they can start communicating with each other.
The tech giant has also mentioned some functions like — cloud-based noise cancellation or closed captions, that need server-side processing or “parsing of call media” will stop working. Moreover, client-side encryption does not support dialling in or out. Furthermore, users can invite participants only within their Workspace organisation to the client-side encrypted calls, for now. The company is likely to introduce guest access in the future.

Google has also mentioned that the inclusion of client-side encryption in Meet is “another significant milestone” in Workspace’s encryption work. The company also claims that this new feature will offer users the “highest degree of protection and control over their data.”