07/25/2020 – UPDATE
From all the external pressures – ZOOM reversed its decision to make end-to-end encryption a paid feature. Privacy and Security MUST be the default in technology, not a paid luxury!
ORIGINAL 07/13/2020 POST: This is outrageous. Zoom made significant and commendable strides forward to finally address security flaws in 2020. However, IMO this latest policy change puts them back into the dog house. Zoom just announced that they will NOT offer end to end encryption to users with free accounts, because they want to give the police and FBI access to calls.
If paid subscribers do have end to end encryption this “policy” is a blatant strategy to simply generate revenue.
Sign the petition to tell Zoom: “Keep people safe by implementing default end to end encryption for all video, audio, and text chat.”
Tell Zoom to implement end to end encryption for all users.
FROM FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE:
“This threatens protesters who are using Zoom to coordinate demonstrations and have confidential discussions about necessary reforms. By giving cops these sensitive conversations, Zoom puts activists at risk. The police can use the information gathered to disrupt protests and even arrest the people involved.”
“As activists demand justice, accountability, and freedom from police violence, Zoom fuels the very police oppression the protesters are fighting against.1“
“This is a decisive moment of change. The need for safety both on and offline has never been greater. Now more than ever companies must take action for our security, not expose us to more danger.”
Tell Zoom to keep all users safe.
“Eric Yuan, Zoom’s CEO, believes limiting encryption to paying customers is necessary because “some people use Zoom for bad purposes.” Not only does Yuan show disturbing bias in drawing a connection between free users and criminals, but he’s making a ridiculous argument. People with bad intentions will just pay to secure their calls, which means there’s literally no reason not to offer end to end encryption to free account holders other than to do law enforcement a favor.2,3
And while bad actors and corporations pay for safety, users who can’t afford paid accounts will be left vulnerable to cyber-criminals, stalkers, and governments around the world can access calls with full cooperation from Zoom.4
This sets an extremely dangerous precedent. This is what law enforcement wants and why they’re pressuring facebook to not roll out end to end encryption on messenger. By doing this Zoom is reinforcing a dangerous lie that widespread availability of end to end encryption is inherently dangerous, which is just nonsense.5“
Tell Zoom to make all users accounts safe and secure with end to end encryption.
Footnotes:
1. The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jun/03/zoom-privacy-law-enforcement-technology-yuan
3. Schneier on Security: https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2020/04/secure_internet.html
4. Tech Crunch: https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/01/zoom-doom/
5. The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/3/21158030/encryption-explainer-guide-law-enforcement-apple-fbi
