You could always just send them a link to a meeting on https://meet.jit.si -- Jitsi Meet is open-source, and doesn't require a Google Account. It's also pretty high-quality, which is nice. And if you want to be extra security-conscious, you can just run your own instance.

And that is better?

It doesn't require installing any software, which is biggest source of issues with Zoom. It also makes realistic claims about its security: https://support.google.com/a/answer/7582940?hl=en

You don’t have to install any software to use Zoom.

Last time I used it, I had to log in to be able to join in my browser, and then couldn't see more then one feed at a time.

Kind of limiting, especially compared to jitsi for example.

Last time I had a Zoom meeting these were the steps to a browser join link:

1. Go to zoom.com 2. Click "Join a meeting" 3. Enter meeting id and click Join 4. Ignore the automatic app download 5. Go back 6. Click "Join a meeting" again 7. Enter meeting id and click Join again 8. Ignore the app download again 9. Click at "If nothing prompts, click here" 10. Click "Join from your browser" 11. Agree to terms of service 12. Enter password and name, click Join

Needless to say, I prefer Jitsi or even Google Meet.

To be fair, Zoom does their best to conceal this. On MacOS at least, you have to download their installer twice, ignoring it each time, before it lets you connect using the web client.

Awful dark patterns like this should be illegal.

I wish I knew that before I installed it. Does the MacOS uninstall actually remove all traces of Zoom at this point?

100% safe alternative: Install Zoom on your Windows Sandbox

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-kernel-intern...

That does not solve the issues that Zoom has/had with encryption nor with leaking info. In addition there have been all kinds of sandbox escapes in the past. Finally I would not trust some random non-free program by Microsoft none the less to be secure, especially not against state attackers.

Windows Sandbox is only available on Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise, which precludes this solution from use for a lot of users.

So it'll still steal your intellectual property and ship it to China but at least they can't run exploits?

I don't get it. The video communications IS the valuable information, and they've already shown they'll route American communicates straight to China and lie about E2EE to advance their goals.

If you think a sandbox is safe try putting one in your living room.

Who is watching you chat with your friends?

Industrial espionage is far more likely to be a target, and I wouldn't be surprised if alternative platforms are just as compromised.