Google reverses its promise to enable encryption by default in Android Lollipop

Summary:UPDATED: The search giant will let phone makers decide whether or not to enable encryption-by-default because of performance issues on older devices.

(Image: CNET/CBS Interactive)

Phones and tablets running Android "Lollipop" will not have device encryption switched on by default, despite an earlier promise by the software maker.

Ars Technica first reported Monday the company's move to reverse its policy. Although all phones and tablets running Android "Lollipop" will support encryption, it will be the responsibility of the phone or tablet maker to decide how to implement it.

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In an email to ZDNet, Google confirmed the decision. Instead, encryption by default will be reserved for "future versions" of the mobile operating system.

Update: A Google spokesperson confirmed the reason in an email was "due to performance issues on some Android partner devices," adding: "We remain firmly committed to encryption because it helps keep users safe and secure on the web."

Although all phones and tablets running Android "Lollipop" will support encryption, it will be the responsibility of the phone or tablet maker in how to implement it.

For now, only Google's-own Nexus 6 phone and Nexus 9 tablet have device encryption enabled by default when the device is first switched on.

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Google reverses its promise to enable encryption by default in Android Lollipop