Zoom, Inc., the American communication technology, company launched the end-to-end encryption feature for users in May.
This feature, however, was limited to paid subscribers of the app, as the company wanted to work with the FBI and law enforcement agencies to bring cyber-criminals, who use the app for bad purposes to book. Hence, the denial of free subscribers from the feature.
However, the company recently reviewed its policy, and have announced that it will begin to make this feature available to all subscribers, whether free or paid ones. Zoom’s CEO, Eric Yuan explained that the feature will be optimal for users.
Hosts on Zoom meetings will be able to turn on end-to-end encryption manually. The security of information will depend on the user’s discretion and the type of meeting.
This decision was reached after Zoom faced criticisms about security from several civil rights groups. These groups claimed that basic security should not be a premium feature only for rich individuals and big corporations. They further asserted that the security of information of all users is necessary and must be taken very seriously.
It is worthy to note that Zoom had faced several backlashes in the past after it was discovered that the app had no end-to-end encryption feature despite the company’s claim of such provision in its marketing sample. This event led to the offer of end-to-end encryption features for only premium subscribers.
There has been the issue of Zoom-bombing, in which free users on the apps are attacked with offensive imagery. More security has been added to enhance protective measures. In lieu of this, Zoom announced that free users should verify their phone numbers via a one-time-password that would be sent in the form of a text message. Sources say that this enhanced feature will be available by July.