Google Meet now locks calls against quantum computers that don't exist yet, which is forward planning most of us only manage for tax time
By Brett Gavaghan, Founder of Adaptd ·
Google has started protecting Meet calls with post-quantum cryptography, so a recording taken now can't be cracked by a future quantum computer. There's nothing to switch on.
The short version
- Google Meet calls now use post-quantum cryptography, a type of encryption built to resist future quantum computers.
- It started rolling out on 12 October 2026 for web and meeting room hardware, for all Workspace and personal Google accounts.
- There is no setting to change, but it's a good prompt to ask your other software vendors about their plans.
Some security updates ask nothing of you. Google is now encrypting Meet calls against a computer nobody has built yet.
What changed in Google Meet?
Google Meet calls now use post-quantum cryptography, which is encryption designed to stay secure even against a future quantum computer. Google started the rollout on 12 October 2026.
The worry is called "store now, decrypt later": someone records encrypted traffic today and waits for a computer powerful enough to crack it. Google says no such quantum computer exists today. Meet already used this kind of encryption for client-side encrypted calls, and now it covers calls more broadly.
Who gets it, and when?
Post-quantum encryption in Google Meet applies to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers and personal Google accounts, including in Australia. It starts with Meet in a laptop web browser and on meeting room hardware, and Google says mobile support is coming soon.
The rollout can take up to 15 days to reach everyone. There's no admin control and no user setting, and calls look and work exactly the same.
What should your business do about it?
Your business doesn't need to change anything in Google Meet, because the protection switches on by itself. It's still worth noting that your calls on laptops and room hardware get this extra layer, while phone calls in the Meet app don't yet.
My advice: use it as a prompt. If you hold sensitive client records, like health, legal or financial files, ask your other software providers what their plan is for post-quantum encryption. A clear answer is a good sign. A blank look is useful information too.
Most security updates ask you to click something. This one just turned up and did the job, which is the best kind.
Sources
Wondering what this means for your business?
That's exactly what the discovery call is for.