Zoom to pay RM358 million to users for making false claims about its end-to-end encryption

After lying to its users about offering end-to-end encryption on its services, and providing user data to Facebook and Google without permission, Zoom will have to pay USD 85 million (RM358 million) as part of class-action lawsuit settlement. This means that each Zoom user will receive about USD 15 (RM63) or USD 25 (RM105) each.

But before you get excited about possibly getting some money from Zoom, the class action settlement only applies to all Zoom users in the United States. But if you are eligible, you’d be getting a part of that settlement regardless of whether you have a free or paid Zoom account.

According to an amended class-action complaint filed in May 2021 said, Zoom’s website claimed that its service provides “end-to-end encryption” and that “data in transit cannot be intercepted”. However, they continued saying that Zoom is “not entitled to its own definition of end-to-end encryption”.

“Zoom’s misrepresentations are a stark contrast to other video conferencing services, such as Apple’s FaceTime, which have undertaken the more challenging task of implementing true E2E encryption for a multiple party call,” the filed complaint read.

Zoom isn’t unfamiliar with a fair share of issues, mostly related to privacy and security. Last year, it was reported that over 500,000 Zoom accounts have been stolen and sold on the dark web. Zoom’s founder even admitted to “missteps” and apologised for having “fallen short” of necessary standards.

The lawsuit also said that Zoom blamed users for a rash of Zoombombings, (unwanted intrusions by internet trolls into a video-conference call) even though the problem was enabled by Zoom’s security shortcomings. Zoom could have limited Zoombombings with “relatively simple technical solutions”.

In addition to the monetary settlement, the video conferencing platform promises to improve its practices to improve the security and privacy of the platform. Additionally, they agreed to “over a dozen major changes to its practices, designed to improve meeting security, bolster privacy disclosures, and safeguard consumer data”.

“The privacy and security of our users are top priorities for Zoom, and we take seriously the trust our users place in us. We are proud of the advancements we have made to our platform, and look forward to continuing to innovate with privacy and security at the forefront,” said Zoom.

[ SOURCE 2 , IMAGE SOURCE ]