Zoom, the popular videoconferencing app came under fire over their stance of giving only premium users end to end encryption. End to End encryption is usually standard for a lot of platforms out there and people were not happy about the decision.
Well, today, Zoom has decided to reverse that policy. They have announced that they will offer end to end encryption to all of their users globally.
“We are also pleased to share that we have identified a path forward that balances the legitimate right of all users to privacy and the safety of users on our platform. This will enable us to offer E2EE as an advanced add-on feature for all of our users around the globe – free and paid – while maintaining the ability to prevent and fight abuse on our platform,” they said on their blog.
Both free and basic users will participate in a one time process while seeking access to end to end encryption. It will prompt the user for information like verifying a phone number via text message.
This feature will go into early beta in July 2020 which is next month. As of now, all Zoom users will continue using AES 256 GCM as their default encryption.
However, Zoom warns that end to end encryption will be an optional feature. This is because it limits some meeting functionality such as the ability to include traditional PSTN phone lines or SIP/H.323 hardware conference room systems. Hosts will have the ability to toggle end to end encryption on or off on a per-meeting basis. Also, account administrations can enable or disable end to end encryption at the account and group level.
This news follows their plans to block participants based on their geography upon request by Beijing. The company has been in the hot seat due to its rise in 2020 and this is not the first time they have rescinded their previous stance.
