Systems and methods for controlling how text messages are archived. A system identifies a text message for delivery over a mobile network, and identifies protection information for controlling archiving of the text message. The system inserts the protection information in the text message, and transmits the text message with the protection information towards a destination. The same or another system, such as a message center, receives the text message, and identifies the protection information inserted in the text message. The receiving system further identifies an end user associated with the text message, and identifies privacy policies provisioned for the end user. The receiving system then processes the privacy policies and the protection information to determine if the text message is authorized to be archived, such as in an archive server.