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A comment on Zoom to bring end-to-end encryption to all users, including non-paying. Parent comment

Re:Zoom to bring end-to-end encryption to all users, includi... by suizi on Thursday June 18, 2020 @12:40AM (#23559847)
Their arguments for not giving it to free accounts was awful and the same trite which has been regurgitated for twenty years.

The real reason is they want to be able to hand data over to China / NSA / marketers.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Zoom to bring end-to-end encryption to all users, includi... by virgilp on Thursday June 18, 2020 @02:13AM (#23560267)
> The other safety issue is related to hosts creating meetings that are meant to facilitate really horrible abuse. These hosts mostly come in from VPNs, using throwaway email addresses, create self-service orgs and host a handful of meetings before creating a new identity.

It's honestly the first time I heard this justification - where else did you hear it in the last twenty years?

Also do you have some concrete reasons to believe Zoom hands over data to marketers? That's the first time I personally heard this claim - can you link me some evidence?

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Re:Zoom to bring end-to-end encryption to all users, includi... by suizi on Thursday June 18, 2020 @03:28AM (#23560662)
Twitter has been caught using phone numbers for security purposes / tackling fake accounts in the past for marketing purposes. Zoom has a very dubious history, involving China, lies and a complete lack of security.

As for the same old same old? It hasn't been precisely in that form but criminals have used Facebook, Tor, Email, Discord, YouTube, Usenet, Skype, MySpace, and other technologies / sites to facilitate abuse. This is merely the newest iteration.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Zoom to bring end-to-end encryption to all users, includi... by virgilp on Thursday June 18, 2020 @04:50AM (#23561128)
"twitter sells phone numbers so Zoom must do the same" - really? Maybe not, because you know, they have actual legitimate revenue that doesn't rely on advertising. So it's not like they have the same incentives...

Also, you seem to acknowledge that there are legitimate concerns/ reasons to NOT offer E2E encryption for free users. Unlike all the other services you mention - Zoom users that care about illegitimate interference in their communications would actually have a way to get E2E encryption. Unlike FB/Youtube/etc, Zoom doesn't need to offer the "free" service in order to exist - it does this as a marketing ploy to get you accustomed to their services. In that sense, withholding functionality from free accounts seems perfectly reasonable?

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Zoom to bring end-to-end encryption to all users, includi... by suizi on Thursday June 18, 2020 @05:34AM (#23561417)
https://twitter.com/SenBlumenthal/status/1247510907992846337 You mean the features they lied about and may have the FTC chasing them for?

Yes, it is a problem, it's been a problem for a very long time. Criminals gravitate to the most convenient platform like anyone else but otherwise don't stop being criminals. It only serves to punish other people.

[ Parent | on HN ]