Concerns Raised Over Google's New Messaging App Security

Since the unveiling of Google's new messaging app called Allo, a group of internet privacy experts has expressed serious concerns about it. Edward Snowden has also joined the critics of Google's new app, Allo. According to CNET, the Allo app, recently revealed at a Google conference, is a messaging application that does not initially feature end-to-end encryption. According to Beta News, Edward Snowden, who is wanted for revealing the issue of government surveillance of American citizens' phone calls and internet messages and is currently in Russia, described this app as 'dangerous' in a tweet and warned users against using it. Allo does have the option for end-to-end encryption, but it must be activated by users. However, to use some of its features—such as 'Smart Reply' for reading your messages and automatically responding to them—this feature must be disabled. Critics argue that in 2016, given all the concerns regarding government surveillance and hackers accessing internet messages, the use of end-to-end encryption is 'essential.' Therefore, Google should be able to offer all features of Allo with it. Full message encryption means that the app provider cannot access the messages exchanged between users. While access to private messages exchanged in communication services may be possible with a government order in the U.S., if they are not stored somewhere and are not readable, the government cannot request them from the service providers.