Imo Earns Google Play’s “Independent Security Review” Badge for Second Year Running
Messaging platform Imo has secured Google Play’s coveted Independent Security Review badge for the second consecutive year, underscoring what Google calls the app’s “high‑bar commitment to user safety and data privacy,” the company announced on Thursday.
The certification is granted under Google’s Mobile Application Security Assessment (MASA) framework—now part of the App Defense Alliance’s Mobile Profile Certification program—which audits Android apps against industry‑best practices for encryption, data storage and privacy controls.
“Receiving the badge two years in a row affirms our continuous investment in end‑to‑end protection and transparency,” Imo said in a statement.
What the badge means
According to Google, the designation verifies that Imo:
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employs “state‑of‑the‑art, strong cryptography” to protect sensitive information on a user’s device,
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gives users “full control” over personal data, and
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passes independent penetration and code‑review tests mandated by MASA.
Users can tap “Learn more” beneath the security badge on Google Play to review the audit details and make what Google calls “better‑informed download decisions.”
Privacy features highlighted
Imo said it recently expanded its security tool‑set to match evolving user expectations, noting features such as:
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end‑to‑end encryption for calls and chats,
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screenshot blocking during live conversations,
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“Privacy Chat” and “Privacy Mode” for disappearing messages,
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two‑step verification, and
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a “Manage Devices” dashboard.
“These safeguards are designed to meet the rising demand for digital confidentiality while keeping the user experience seamless,” the company added.
The Bahrain‑based platform, owned by Singapore‑registered PageBites, serves more than 200 million monthly active users, with South Asia and the Middle East among its largest markets.
