Google Duo has been upgraded to include both video calling and meeting capabilities. When communicating in Duo, you can use either:
- 1:1 and group video calling: The classic Duo end-to-end encrypted experience that involves ringing a number or group directly.
- Meetings: The ability to create or join a cloud-encrypted Google Meet meeting with a link when you’re ready. Meet meetings happen in the Duo app.
Available features and encryption methods are different between video calling and meetings.
To keep your conversations private, Duo uses end-to-end encryption for 1:1 and group video calling and cloud encryption for meetings joined or created in Duo.
- Only people in a call or meeting know what’s said or shown.
- Google can’t view, hear, or save audio or video from your call or meeting.
To make sure your data is safe, Google Duo uses multiple encryption methods.
- For 1:1 and group video calling: End-to-end encryption is used to mask data with a code that only you and the other callers can access.
- For Meet meetings in the Duo app: Cloud encryption is used to encrypt your meeting data in transit and stored information in Google's data centers instead of end-to-end encryption.
Tip: To add an additional layer of protection, organizations can also use client-side encryption to have full control of their encryption keys. Learn more about client-side encryption.
End-to-end encryption is a standard security method that protects communications data. It's built into every Duo 1:1 and group video call, so you don’t need to turn it on yourself, and it can’t be turned off.
How end-to-end encryption & cloud encryption differ