FTC requires Zoom to beef up its security

Since it detonated in notoriety toward the beginning of the Covid pandemic, Zoom has vowed to address the all the more glaring security and protection issues that are a piece of its video meeting software. And now the company has a regulatory incentive to do exactly that. As part of a new proposed settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over its privacy practices, the company must establish an information security program that will see it share security audits with the agency. Zoom has also agreed to notify the FTC if it goes through a data breach, as well as implement additional security features. 

The main issue the FTC had with Zoom’s practices was that it misled people about its use of end-to-end (E2E) encryption. Since as far back as 2016, the company’s website has said users could secure their Zoom meetings “with end-to-end encryption. In reality, Zoom only recently started rolling out E2E encryption to video meetings. The FTC says the company’s claims gave people a false sense of security.

“Zoom’s security practices didn’t line up with its promises, and this action will help to make sure that Zoom meetings and data about Zoom users are protected,” said Andrew Smith, the director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. 

“We take seriously the trust our users place in us every day, particularly as they rely on us to keep them connected through this unprecedented global crisis, and we continuously improve our security and privacy programs,” a spokesperson for Zoom told Engadget. “We are proud of the advancements we have made to our platform, and we have already addressed the issues identified by the FTC. Today’s resolution with the FTC is in keeping with our commitment to innovating and enhancing our product as we deliver a secure video communications experience.”

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