To keep your data private, messages on Duo are protected with end-to-end encryption. Only the sender and receiver can know what’s said or shown, and Google can’t see or hear your messages. However, when you turn on captions, your audio data is sent to Google’s Cloud transcription service. No video data is sent and your audio content isn’t linked with any personal identifiers. Google doesn’t save any data as part of this feature.
How messages work
You can send video or voice messages with Google Duo. You can also turn on captions for messages you send and receive.
After you play a message, you can revisit it at any time unless you changed your Duo settings to delete messages 24 hours after they play. When you delete a message, it’s removed from all devices.
How we protect your data
Google Duo messages are sent with end-to-end encryption. This means that the message’s audio and video data are encrypted from your device to your contact’s device. The encrypted audio and video can be decoded only with a shared secret key. You can learn more in Duo’s end-to-end encryption technical paper.
However, to provide captions, audio data from your Duo message is sent to Google’s Cloud speech service. Personal identifiers are removed before the audio data is sent so this audio is not linked to you.
Your messages are encrypted when they’re sent to Google’s Cloud speech service, and while they’re on Google’s storage system for captioning. Google doesn’t read your messages or keep your audio data.
You’re in control
Turn on captions
- On your Android phone or tablet, open Duo.
- In the top right, tap More
Settings
- Turn on Captions for messages.
Settings Delete messages after 24 hours
- On your Android phone or tablet, open Duo.
- In the top right corner, tap More
- Turn off Save Messages.